Superintendent to call special meeting for new head coach/AD

By LYNETTE SOEWLL 

Cove Leader-Press 

During last week's Copperas Cove Independent School District board of trustees workshop, CCISD superintendent Brent Hawkins said that the district could be presenting a finalist for the position of head football coach/athletic director, as soon as March 27

The district has engaged the services of TDL Sports to conduct the search. TDL Sports is a firm that helps school districts recruit and hire head coaches and other key staff for athletics programs. 

“I was contacted by Dr. Taylor with TDL and he is elated at the interest in the job, and so he feels like that the folks will be happy with the process and the applicant pool when it comes down the pike,” said Hawkins.

When asked if he believe the district could have a lone finalist for the position by that time, he said, “Lord willing, I do not see any reason that we could not do that.”

TDL Sports is accepting resumes and cover letters through March 15 for the position.

The discussion came about during the workshop when discussing giving the superintendent hiring authority for the district during the summer. This is an authorization that is that usually given by the board each spring.

On Tuesday, Hawkins also talked about the need to act in a timely manner when hiring for certain positions.

“There are certain positions, like hiring a head football coach, hiring a superintendent, hiring a high school principal -- all of those are controversial hires, because every decision you make is embroiled in controversy. Whether you play somebody’s child or you don’t play somebody’s child, or whether you make a decision on a superintendent, or whatever the case may be,” Hawkins told the board. “As you know, social media has a huge megaphone, and folks like to use it to criticize things. So we’ll make sure that the board has an opportunity to consider positions of those stature, so that number one, the applicant can see that there is support beyond one person and coming into a job, that there truly is an ownership of a team of eight that bought into that hire.” 

The district announced on February 26 that it was changing roles among the district’s athletics leadership. Head Football Coach Tony Johnson was moved into the role of Assistant Athletic Director. 

Boys powerlifting coach Adrian Miller was moved into the role of Interim Head Football Coach until the position is filled, and Athletic Director Cari Lowery was moved into the of Girls Athletic Director. 

This changeup merged the Head Coach/Athletic Director positions into one administrative position, as it was prior to Johnson’s hire at the 2022-2023 school year.