Brazos Valley’s new coaches

Brazos Valley has 9 new head coaches

FormerBrenhamChristiancoachRickFreyinchargeofnew6-manfootballprograminDimeBox

By MARIA MCILWAIN maria.mcilwain@theeagle.com

Here is a look at the nine new head football coaches in the Brazos Valley this season:

RUDDER • NEW COACH: Eric Ezar • PREVIOUS COACH: Greg Morgan

The Rangers saw steady improvement during Greg Morgan’s two-year tenure and hope to continue that trend under Eric Ezar, who comes to Rudder after four years as Willis’ athletic director. During his time in purple, Ezar helped the Wildkat football program grow in numbers, something that would greatly benefit Rudder, which has suffered a lack of depth of late.

Morgan announced his retirement in February after going 6-14 at Rudder. He also coached at Madisonville from 2000-15, winning three district titles.

CALDWELL • NEW COACH: Matt Langley • PREVIOUS COACH: Bobby Jack Goforth

Matt Langley comes to Caldwell from San Antonio Brandeis, where he was the offensive coordinator. He’s taking over a Caldwell squad that hasn’t finished above .500 since 2015, posting a 3-7 record last season.

Langley helped Brandeis to the Class 6A state quarterfinals and won a district title at Maud. He replaces Bobby Jack Goforth, who retired after the 2018 season to spend more time with his younger daughters.

MADISONVILLE • NEW COACH: Russell Urbantke • PREVIOUS COACH: Rusty Nail

After 17 years in coaching, Russel Urbantke will take the reins for the first time as a head coach this season. He takes over for Rusty Nail, who moved into an athletic director/facilities coordinator role with the school district. Nail we nt 19-15 in three years at Madisonville, including a 5-5 record in 2018.

Urbantke previously served as the Mustangs’ offensive coordinator, and his relationship with Nail dates back to when the two coached Mart to a state title in 2006.

IOLA • NEW COACH: Kerry Bamburg • PREVIOUS COACH: Dwayne Ross

Kerry Bamburg comes to Iola from the Aldine school

district, where he most recently was the wellness coach at Aldine Blanson CTE. He previously coached Aldine Eisenhower from 2013-17, winning back-to-back district titles in 2014- 15. He had a 26-27 overall record at Eisenhower.

Bamburg replaces Dwayne Ross, who resigned July 4 after two years at Iola. The BAMBURG Bulldogs went 4-5 last year and lost to Flatonia 30-28 in the bi-district round of the 2A Division II playoffs.

NORMANGEE • NEW COACH: Keith Sitton • PREVIOUS COACH: Nelson Kortis

Keith Sitton is no stranger to the Brazos Valley as he coached at Leon for 24 seasons, the last 10 as the head coach. He posted a 48-55 record in that time.

Sitton most recently was an assistant football and head baseball coach at Madisonville and led the Mustangs to the 4A Region III quarterfinals and a 26-9 record on the diamond last season.

Nelson Kortis resigned after four seasons and a 23-24 record at Normangee.

SNOOK • NEW COACH: Boone Patterson • PREVIOUS COACH: Chad Lechler

Boone Patterson takes over a Snook squad that had a solid 2018, posting a 9-3 record and reaching the area round of the playoffs. Patterson and the Bluejays also will usher in a new era as Snook will play in its own stadium this season after two years of playing home games at Allen Academy. He replaces Chad Lechler, PATTERSON who left to pursue opportunities with a family-run business.

SOMERVILLE • NEW COACH: Cal Neatherlin • PREVIOUS COACH: Greg Bagby

Cal Neatherlin is Somerville’s seventh head coach since 2013, and he inherits a program that went 1-9 last season.

Neatherlin was an assistant for four years at San Antonio Southwest and before that was a longtime assistant at Midland, where he helped the Bulldogs snap a 51-year playoffdrought.

He replaces Greg Bagby, who left after one season.

DIME BOX • NEW COACH: Rick Frey • PREVIOUS COACH: none

Rick Frey is making history as the first head football coach at Dime Box, but he isn’t new to coaching 6-man football. He coached at Brenham Christian in 2014 and was the wide receivers coach at Houston Westbury and athletic director at Bob Hope School in Port Arthur. He is 6-5 overall as a head coach. FREY

BVCHEA • NEW COACH: Joshua Ray • PREVIOUS COACH: Gerald Hancock

Joshua Ray is entering his first season as head coach, taking over for Gerald Hancock, who led BVCHEA to a 12-9 record over two seasons.

The Mustangs have made the playoffs every year since 2010, and they hosted a playoffgame for the first time last season. BVCHEA went 5-5 last season and lost to Fort Worth THESA 52-46 in RAY the first round of the TAIAO Division I playoffs.