SPORTS
SIDELINE CONFIDENTIAL: Delving into past Bowie coaches
With the high school football season fast approaching, I decided to take a trip down memory lane, track down a few former Bowie coaches, and see what they are up to.
Brad Keck arrived in Bowie July of 1999 after previous coaching stops in Springtown, Paradise and Nocona. Keck said he was familiar with Mark White, the Jackrabbits head coach at the time, which is how he ended up in town. Keck served as defensive coordinator under Mike Chaney until 2003, when he took over as head coach and athletic director.
“My expectations were the same then as they are now,” Keck said. “I expected to have a good turnout of hard working kids.”
Keck said the 2004 season was a very special year for him, as the Rabbits made the playoffs for the first time since the early 1980s. He also said the 2008 squad was “a great team to coach.” Bowie made the playoffs that season as well. Before the success however, Keck said one of his more memorable games was on the road against Sanger in 2003. The win was the team’s only one that season.
“A lot of those players were young, so we got them back the following year and had a real good program,” Keck said.
After he left Bowie in April of 2009, Keck returned to Nocona, his alma mater, to take the head coach/athletic director position. The coach said the offense he runs currently with the Indians originated from the offense he ran with the Rabbits in 2007 and 2008, with a few minor changes.
“Bowie was a good place for me,” Keck said. “I coached a lot of good kids. It was an enjoyable time for me and my family.” Read the complete column in the mid-week edition of The Bowie News.
Bowie News sports columnist Blake Wood. (Photo by Ryan Evans)
New Saint Jo Boy’s Basketball Coach Terry McLennan said the school’s family atmosphere is what prompted him to join the Panther family.
“This is an opportunity to be an important program but also part of a great community,” McLennan said. “I’ve been looking to get back to a small town environment like the one I grew up in and played ball and this should do that.”
McLennan played basketball in Hubbard outside of Waco. McLennan comes to town after being the assistant girl’s basketball coach in Grand Prairie.
McLennan contends he’s a defensive style of coach but says his team will focus on intensity.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
New Saint Jo Boy’s Basketball Coach Terry McLennan said the school’s family atmosphere is what prompted him to join the Panther family.
“This is an opportunity to be an important program but also part of a great community,” McLennan said. “I’ve been looking to get back to a small town environment like the one I grew up in and played ball and this should do that.”
McLennan played basketball in Hubbard outside of Waco. McLennan comes to town after being the assistant girl’s basketball coach in Grand Prairie.
McLennan contends he’s a defensive style of coach but says his team will focus on intensity.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
After some coaching time in East Texas, Bret Botard will be the new girl’s basketball coach at Bowie.
Botard said it’s a chance to work with Bowie Athletic Director Tyler Price once again. Price was Botard’s assistant when he coached at Nocona.
“I wanted to get back into the area,” Botard said. “It’s a good community.”
Botard graduated high school in 1995 from Del Valle High School, outside Austin, and went to Texas Tech. He started his coaching career in Lubbock followed by returning to his alma mater where he was an assistant for his high school coach.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
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