Granger’s athletic director and head football coach since 2002, Hunt has resigned to take the same positions at 3A Wharton beginning Monday.
“It’s a chance to move to a bigger school,” Hunt said. “Obviously more money was a factor and it seemed like a good opportunity. I went down there and met some great people and I decided it’s best for me and my family.”
Also headed to Wharton is Granger superintendent James Bartosh, who said earlier in the year that he would leave. He will take over as superintendent June 1.
Replacing Bartosh is Steve White, who has spent the last four years at Granger. He served one year as a teacher, one as curriculum director and the past two as business manager. White will also begin his new job June 1.
One of his first expected duties is to promote interim Granger AD and football coach Allen Dews full-time for 2008-09. Dews, a Taylor native, has been the Lions’ defensive coordinator for three years. He also coached at Taylor and Gregory-Portland.
“I’m excited and I’m scared to death,” Dews said about his promotion. “I’ve got a good coaching staff with the ones who are staying. I know the kids are excited because it’s less change for them.
“It’s a good situation to work with the new administration, a good change for me and a good change for everybody.”
Hunt made quite an impression during his interview at Wharton, 60 miles southwest of Houston.
According to the Wharton Journal-Spectator, “it took Wharton ISD board members only 20 minutes to name Hunt as the new athletic director and head football coach on April 29.”
Hunt, who served two years at Granger as defensive coordinator before taking the top job in 2002, went 38-28 in six seasons and led the Lions to 20 wins - four in the playoffs - the past two years.
In 2007, his 12-2 squad won District 27-A and reached the semifinals before losing to eventual champion Alto.
Hunt also coached one year at 2A Maypearl and four years in Elgin, Okla.
He will inherit a Wharton squad that finished 2-8 overall and 2-5 in 24-3A last year. He will replace Gary Van Sant, who resigned to take an assistant coaching position at 5A Tomball.
“The people have been extremely accepting of me and my family,” Hunt said. “I’ll miss a lot of friends I’ve made over the last eight years. The kids are outstanding and I’ll definitely miss them."
cmeister@temple-telegram.com
