Coaching carousel keeps turning in Copperas Cove

By TJ MAXWELL
Cove Leader-Press

After the 24-year stint of Jack Welch unexpectedly came to a close in April and the new head football coach and athletic director Jack Alvarez was announced just a few weeks later, several more coaches have been reassigned or have left for other opportunities.
During a school board meeting on June 12 it was announced that head boys’ basketball coach Billy White Jr would relinquish his position as head basketball for a move to a Copperas Cove High School assistant principal position.
White was hired back in 2009 after a three-year stint as assistant coach to David Farber.
A few days later, head baseball coach and assistant football coach Dusty Brittain resigned his position to take the head coaching spot at Seguin.
Brittain came to a program that won just 10 games over a three-year span of district action and turned them into a perennial playoff contender.
The Bulldawgs went 13-11-1 and narrowly missed the playoffs in Brittain’s first season then went 69-45-2 over the four years with three playoff trips. Cove finished last year with their best-ever record of 25-6-2 and their best district finish as the no. 2 seed.
On the heels of that departure came one from head track coach and assistant football coach Keith Stifflemire who will be an assistant football coach and pole vault coach with the Gatesville Hornets.
Stifflemire served under Welch for nine years on the football team and saw several school track records broken under his tenure, including the pole vault record set by his son Kyle at 16 feet, two inches earlier this year.
The school district posted the openings on the district’s website. Applications will be accepted through July 9.
At least 10 other coaching vacancies are listed at the district’s website for the high school and junior highs. 
Welch’s brother and offensive coordinator, Tracy Welch, took the athletic director job at Lake Worth High School and took longtime assistants Tracy Ranes and Vance McAnally with him. Shortly after, Jack Welch announced his retirement after 24 years at the helm.
New to the Copperas Cove coaching staff is Brandon Alvarez, son of new athletic director Jack Alvarez. He served as the offensive coordinator for the last two seasons in Ennis and is expected to take on the same duties for the Bulldawgs. Alvarez is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin and has teaching certifications for special education and social studies.
Also making the transition from Lion to Bulldawg is Jason Hammett, who has spent time as offensive coordinator and line coach in his tenure. He has a degree from West Texas A&M and has a certification in social studies composite.
Cody McCauley comes from Katy ISD to the Copperas Cove coaching staff. A graduate of Texas State, he has certifications in history, social studies, and secondary physical education. McCauley coached safeties at Katy Taylor.
More hires are expected in the next few weeks as the Bulldawgs prepare for fall practice that begins Aug. 6.