The Texas High School Coaches Association Convention is the sign of the fall athletic season around the corner. 10,000 coaches in all sports converged on San Antonio for 2016 convention filled with vendors, and lectures.
“It unifies the coaches in our state and if we have to we can be one group and one body speaking, having lot of influence and people on stuff.” Katy High School football coach Gary Joseph. “Being able to have a strong organization means everything to us.”
This is also a time for college coaches to continue building relationships across the state for recruiting purposes. All eight of the collegiate coaches that spoke to media at the convention discussed how important the relationships with high school coaches are during the convention process.
“We know recruiting is all about relationships and right now guys in this state either know somebody that coached on my staff or have coached on my staff when I coached in high school.” SMU head coach Chad Morris said, “This is a great time to come down before the season and interact with the coaches and catch up.”
For coaches that look to grow their program, the convention is a place to get their name out and build those ever so important relationships.
“I still have a lot of connections with high school coaches, but even I had a hard time, so coming to the convention and coaches seeing the UIW on our shirt is huge to build those relationships.” Brian Gamble the defensive coordinator at University of Incarnate Word.
Incarnate Word launched a football program back in 2008 and these conventions are place to help build the program up.
“With the convention in San Antonio this year, we told coaches to come on out to our campus and see the UIW facilities so they know what we are talking about when we start recruiting one of their kids and they can feel comfortable with us.” Gamble said.
No matter the program or coach, the Texas High School Coaches Association Convention is always a place for relationships to grow for college coaches in the ever-important recruiting scene.
