63 replies to this topic

[captainjack]

Supt. should get this over quick and hire Paul Willingham as the next head coach. He has earned and deserves this chance. Would be great for the school, kids, town, and her image around town. Get this wrong and she might be talked about more than the city manager. Heard also that if Paul gets the job that Jeff Berry might like to be his DC if Paul would have him. It will be tough on any coach to follow Sam at Ennis but I believe Paul has the best chance to succeed.

[brickstone75]

Supt. should get this over quick and hire Paul Willingham as the next head coach. He has earned and deserves this chance. Would be great for the school, kids, town, and her image around town. Get this wrong and she might be talked about more than the city manager. Heard also that if Paul gets the job that Jeff Berry might like to be his DC if Paul would have him. It will be tough on any coach to follow Sam at Ennis but I believe Paul has the best chance to succeed.

I totally agree Capt. - Pwillie is the man for the job.

I know that there is already a ground swell of public opinion in favor of coach Willie. I am of that opinion myself. I played HS FB with Pdum, and I've known him most of our lives. He was a heck of player and is an even better coach. Noone ever works harder in preparation, or on game day, than Paul. He's been @ Ennis 28 seasons and has worked miracles w/undersized players for most of that time. I can tell you that his players leave the program loving him for life and are always coming back seeking him out to talk with. He's engineered some of the greatest defensive efforts in Ennis Football history, case in point Ennis 20 Bay City 0.

He's earned the shot at this job and, if he doesn't get it, It would be a shame on the game.

[ut-a&m]

Supt. should get this over quick and hire Paul Willingham as the next head coach. He has earned and deserves this chance. Would be great for the school, kids, town, and her image around town. Get this wrong and she might be talked about more than the city manager. Heard also that if Paul gets the job that Jeff Berry might like to be his DC if Paul would have him. It will be tough on any coach to follow Sam at Ennis but I believe Paul has the best chance to succeed.

Know there has been a lot of speculation-smoke/fire on this board and others as to the replacement of Sam Harrell.

Does any one know the procedure as to how the new coach will be chosen? Is it the AD, Supt, selected committee or School Board and who has the final say? I realize the School Board has the final approval but do they participate in the selection process?

From reading how other schools have approached a HC hiring there are about 3 stages. First the long list of candidates is shortened down to a group of 5-10 who will receive an interview and then that group will be reduced to 2-3 from which a final interview will result in one being chosen.

[brickstone75]

Know there has been a lot of speculation-smoke/fire on this board and others as to the replacement of Sam Harrell.

I assume you r refering to the rumors posted over on theoldcoach/DFW board.

Like I posted over there, not sure what to make of the rumors, but the Supt. has assured me that there is no truth to the first one. I have not had a chance to address the new one w/her so, I'll wait to comment on that.

At this point though, with all the light being shown on the "Ennis vacancy", I doubt Supt. Qualls would want to involve herself too deeply in the process, thus insuring there was no further question as to those she has "close ties" with being "in favor" for the job.

But, that's just mho.

In our conversations before, and after, those rumor posts were started. I could tell she wants what is best for the kids in the program, and it's continued success.

As for ur "how's it done"? Ennis has always used the by committe process, so I believe that's how they would handle this hire. But, you never know.

[archercom]

Supt. should get this over quick and hire Paul Willingham as the next head coach. He has earned and deserves this chance. Would be great for the school, kids, town, and her image around town. Get this wrong and she might be talked about more than the city manager. Heard also that if Paul gets the job that Jeff Berry might like to be his DC if Paul would have him. It will be tough on any coach to follow Sam at Ennis but I believe Paul has the best chance to succeed.

I've been broadcasting high school sports in Texas since 1977, and was fortunate enough to broadcast Ennis football from 2004-2009, and if there is one thing I have learned over the years, its that a head coach is successful only if he has top quality assistants that he can depend on. There is no doubt in my mind that Coach Willingham is one of those assistants that has gotten the job done, and IMHO is deserving of the opportunity to rise to the helm of head coach at Ennis.

Coach Willie has the tangibles that one looks for in a coach: Respect from the players, respect from his coaching peers, and a willingness to delegate. In my mind, he is the logical choice to become the next football coach at Ennis HS.

John

[kbo]

I agree with the previous posts, Coach Willingham would be perfect as our next Heach Coach. Coach Willingham has been a part of Ennis Lions football for a long, long time. He played for the Lions and has been a coach for Ennis since way back when. He was my coach and teacher way back in Junior High. When I heard about Coach Harrell retiring from football, Coach Willingham was the first name I thought of as a perfect fit for the next era of Lions football. To me, Coach Willingham's spirit and heart he brings to coaching is the definition of what Ennis Lions football is. The best way I can say it is that he bleeds maroon.

Go Lions!

[captainjack]

I assume you r refering to the rumors posted over on theoldcoach/DFW board.

Like I posted over there, not sure what to make of the rumors, but the Supt. has assured me that there is no truth to the first one. I have not had a chance to address the new one w/her so, I'll wait to comment on that.

At this point though, with all the light being shown on the "Ennis vacancy", I doubt Supt. Qualls would want to involve herself too deeply in the process, thus insuring there was no further question as to those she has "close ties" with being "in favor" for the job.

But, that's just mho.

In our conversations before, and after, those rumor posts were started. I could tell she wants what is best for the kids in the program, and it's continued success.

As for ur "how's it done"? Ennis has always used the by committe process, so I believe that's how they would handle this hire. But, you never know.

I find it weird that places in the supt. past seems to know more about the Ennis program than those in Ennis. She was once in the HP school district and today while I was in HP, was told that she wanted to clean house because there is a disciplinary problem within program. If this is the case why not address it with the coaches and not other school districts.

[brickstone75]

I find it weird that places in the supt. past seems to know more about the Ennis program than those in Ennis. She was once in the HP school district and today while I was in HP, was told that she wanted to clean house because there is a disciplinary problem within program. If this is the case why not address it with the coaches and not other school districts.

Well Capt. I'm certainly bummed to hear that. I know you wouldn't make something like that up, but I wouldn't put it past some from HP. Never-the-less it is disturbing. Our guys deserve better than that, if it were true.

[monter]

Well Capt. I'm certainly bummed to hear that. I know you wouldn't make something like that up, but I wouldn't put it past some from HP. Never-the-less it is disturbing. Our guys deserve better than that, if it were true.

Weird thing is, I was reading Dr. Qualls' biography off of the EISD site, and it says nothing about her ever working for HP.

[brickstone75]

The rumor mill continues to feed the local grapevine with "They said", running the gambit from pure speculation right up to the edge of the absurd. As soon as one rumor cools, another rocks my morning coffee with texts or calls from those "in the know".

But, I think I can put "They" to rest by saying - with the number of "High Profile 4A & 5A Coaches" that I've been told have applied for the Ennis job, it would border on ridiculous to think that an "in favor" 2A coach would even make the first cut, much less get this job.

Dr. Qualls is an intelligent woman, smart enough to know that the LIGHT is on, smart enough to seek the right kind of counsel, and smart enough to make the right decision in this matter.

Update: I've polled a lot of Ennis people over the holidays. Locally, there is a great amount of support for coach Willie. I think if it were put to a local vote, He'd be a shoe in for the job, but that's not how it's done. Still, I believe there are only two scenarios that would satisfy the locals. 1) Paul Willingham be named Head Coach of the Ennis Lions. 2) Former OC Wayne Walker be brought back as HC keeping Pwillie, Marrow and 2 or 3 other coaches already on staff.

[monter]

The rumor mill continues to feed the local grapevine with "They said", running the gambit from pure speculation right up to the edge of the absurd. As soon as one rumor cools, another rocks my morning coffee with texts or calls from those "in the know".

But, I think I can put "They" to rest by saying - with the number of "High Profile 4A & 5A Coaches" that I've been told have applied for the Ennis job, it would border on ridiculous to think that an "in favor" 2A coach would even make the first cut, much less get this job.

Dr. Qualls is an intelligent woman, smart enough to know that the LIGHT is on, smart enough to seek the right kind of counsel, and smart enough to make the right decision in this matter.

Update: I've polled a lot of Ennis people over the holidays. Locally, there is a great amount of support for coach Willie. I think if it were put to a local vote, He'd be a shoe in for the job, but that's not how it's done. Still, I believe there are only two scenarios that would satisfy the locals. 1) Paul Willingham be named Head Coach of the Ennis Lions. 2) Former OC Wayne Walker be brought back as HC keeping Pwillie, Marrow and 2 or 3 other coaches already on staff.

As you obviously know, "They" don't know as much as "They" think they do, and "They" are usually wrong. Especially when it comes to

And "They" usually hear it from a cousin's friend's girlfriend's uncle, or something.

[Ennis HS 76]

I hope Coach Willie becomes the HC!!!

[captainjack]

As you obviously know, "They" don't know as much as "They" think they do, and "They" are usually wrong. Especially when it comes to

And "They" usually hear it from a cousin's friend's girlfriend's uncle, or something.

This is for sure - if it's not done right there will be no chicken on Sunday night. Right Brick?

Edited by brickstone75, 01 January 2011 - 08:53 PM.

[brickstone75]

Right is right, wrong is wrong. Don't matter how many coats of paint you slap on it.

[TUPELO]

coach willy has my vote. there are very few people i have had the chance to meet who have been a better motivator than he

[brickstone75]

Interviews for the head football coaching job at EHS are underway.

The list is long and strong, but expect things to move quickly now and a pick to be made by the end of Jan.

[brickstone75]

Interviews for the head football coaching job at EHS are underway.

The list is long and strong, but expect things to move quickly now and a pick to be made by the end of Jan.

Second round interviews are underway.

[brickstone75]

Expect a hire on this job this week.

Edited by brickstone75, 23 January 2011 - 08:40 PM.

[kbo]

Expect a hire on this job Mon. or Tues.

Thanks Brick for keeping us updated.

[captainjack]

Thanks Brick for keeping us updated.

As long as this has gone on I feel that the new coach will be from some where other than present staff. Will more than likely have no past ties to Ennis program as well. Lady Supt wants this to be her man. So she should quit dragging her feet and pull the trigger. Its time to get this over with so these loyal coaches can start looking for a better fit. Like someone said on another board get it done are go back to 2a supt.