In May, the role of athletic director was taken from football coach Randy Franklin and given to boys basketball coach Drew Sumner in late June.
Then on July 11, Franklin resigned as the Cougars’ football coach after 10 seasons.
“It was just time for a change,” said Franklin, who is the winningest coach in Jarrell football history. “I really enjoyed my time at Jarrell, but I decided I needed to move on.”
With less than a month before the Cougars’ first scrimmage against Bruceville-Eddy on Aug. 16, Sumner selected third-year Jarrell assistant Ricky Taylor as Franklin’s successor.
“I’m very excited. It’s overwhelming right now,” said Taylor, who will be a head coach for the first time. “I’m really anxious for the kids to get going. Randy did a good job at Jarrell.”
Added Sumner: “We thought he was a capable replacement for Randy. He’s coached here for a few years and said he would like a chance if Randy resigned. He’s been given his chance. I think he’ll do a good job.”
Prior to serving under Franklin, Taylor was an offensive coordinator at Class 2A Eastland.
Following in Franklin’s footsteps will be no easy task.
Before he took over at Jarrell in 1998, the Cougars had totaled 58 wins, one winning season (1986) and had eight head coaches in their first 22 years of 11-man football.
During Franklin’s 10 seasons at the helm, Jarrell went 69-39, won a district title in 2000, was co-champion in 2006 with Salado and advanced to the 2A playoffs four times. Franklin’s squads suffered one losing season, his last, when the Cougars finished 4-6 and were denied a playoff trip with an overtime loss to Lago Vista in the regular-season finale.
After he resigned last Friday, Franklin signed a contract with Class 3A Mabank to become special teams coordinator, defensive line coach and head track coach.
Less than a week later, Class 5A Round Rock coach Lanny Wilson came calling and offered Franklin an assistant coaching position and an opportunity to keep his family closer to Temple. Franklin decided against Mabank and expects to sign a contract on Monday to join the Dragons’ staff as offensive line coach.
In other coaching news . . .
Temple hired Trey Sullivan to head up its swimming program. Sullivan served as Temple coach for five years before spending last season as the coach at Austin College.
Academy hired Ed Glendening as boys basketball coach. Glendening replaces Alex Remschel, who resigned in May after nine seasons to become principal. Glendening previously coached at Wills Point, Navasota and Sinton.
Former Riesel baseball coach Chema Chavez was approved as Rosebud-Lott’s head baseball coach at Tuesday’s school board meeting. Chavez spent one year at Riesel and replaces Keith Klaus, who resigned earlier in the month to become the coach at Rogers. Chavez played college baseball at Concordia-Austin.
