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Updated Tuesday, July 07, 2009 10:08 PM
Sherman hires Kinne as AD and football coach
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CHRIS JENNINGS / HERALD DEMOCRAT
Sherman school board member Al Zorrilla welcomes Gary Joe Kinne who, was named the Bearcats athletic director and head football coach, and his daughter, Kellie, on Tuesday night.
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BY TYLER CLIFTON
HERALD DEMOCRAT
A new era of Sherman football has arrived, and Gary Kinne was the
man recommended by the Sherman Independent School District board on
Tuesday night by a unanimous vote of 7-0.
Kinne, 42, was hired for a one-year probationary contract and comes
to town after most recently leading Clovis West (Calif.) High School to
a 10-3 record and central section championship. Born in Mesquite, Kinne
and his family will make the move back to the Lone Star State where it
all began.
Wife Laurie is a 1990 Denison graduate, and Kinne's parents live in
Mesquite, where he played at North Mesquite, later coached at Mesquite
High School from 1997-2002 and was defensive coordinator his final
season after winning a state championship in 2001.
Oldest son G.J. is competing for the starting quarterback spot at
the University of Tulsa this fall, while daughter Kellie and Kinne's
parents were in attendance Tuesday night. Laurie and youngest son
Landry are back in Fresno with dog Max preparing to make the 24-hour
trek east on Interstate 40.
"I'm excited to be here and look forward to working with these
athletes in the right matter and serving as a Christian role model for
these guys," Kinne said. "There's nothing like Texas High School
football, and Friday nights are special, especially in the one-high
school towns such as Sherman. Now I need to get some moving trucks and
get here."
Kinne replaces Drew Young, who was 37-29 in six seasons in charge of
the Bearcats. The current Bearcat staff off assistants is expected to
remain, including defensive coordinator Jason Heath and offensive
coordinator Royce Slechta, who were two of the six finalists along with
Callisburg High's Jerry Bomar, El Paso Hanks' Jeff Cleveland and Mark
White of Early.
The original list consisted of 31 applicants from 10 different
states, but the final decision came down to head coaching experience,
and Kinne fit the mold with his 38-11 record in four seasons, including
a 28-8 mark in three years at Canton High School.
"We wanted someone who had athletic leadership and experience
serving as an athletic director," SISD Superintendent Dr. Al Hambrick
said. "We wanted someone with head coaching experience, but beyond
that, we were looking for a person with a history of proven success,
and we felt Coach Kinne met our criteria."
Kinne began his coaching career in 1991, where he was an assistant
for three seasons at Kaufman High School, including a stint as
defensive coordinator in the final two. He was also an assistant at
Allen and Mesquite before receiving his first head coaching job at
Canton in 2003.
Kinne became national news after the parent of one of his player's
shot him in the abdomen and destroyed much of his liver on Apr. 7,
2005. He returned to coach the Eagles in the fall and led them to a
school-record 12 wins and their first district title in more than four
decades.
He was Baylor's linebackers coach in 2006-07 under now Texas
A&M-Commerce coach Guy Morriss and is the eighth-leading tackler in
Baylor history with 323 as a linebacker from 1986-89. He earned
All-Southwest Conference accolades at his middle linebacker position
and was a part of three winning seasons, a Bluebonnet Bowl victory and
a No. 12 national ranking in 1986.
On the sidelines, Kinne was named the 2005 Adams USA National Head
Coach of the Year and the Fox Sports Southwest State Class 3A Coach of
the Year.
Sherman begins its two-a-day workouts on Aug. 3 after not
participating in spring practice. Kinne feels the extra week of
preparation could pay dividends when it comes to developing chemistry
and a sense of camaraderie with his new players.
"I'm glad they didn't have it (spring practice), but there are still
a lot of things that will be similar," Kinne said. "It's about making a
smooth transition and doing what's best for these kids in the long
term."
Kinne credits Baylor coach Grant Teaff for his ability to coach
athletes in what he deems the proper way and current Tulsa coach Todd
Graham for his competitive style of coaching. At the same time, Kinne
stressed the importance of getting Sherman's entire program back to a
degree of respectability.
"Obviously people know football is the first order of business,
because it's the first sport to open the fall," Kinne said. "I look
forward to meeting with all the coaches and evaluating all our
programs' strengths and weaknesses."
Kinne is familiar with the Battle of the Ax, its rich history and
the fact Sherman has won only one of the last six games in the series.
He knows Cody White and Young from recruiting the Texomaland area while
at Baylor.
"Coach Young left things in good hands, and you always want to win
your rivalry game," Kinne said. "It's one of 10 games though, and the
other nine are just as important to the season. We want to be
successful in the playoffs and peak at the right time. You want to be
realistic about it and play your best football in November and
December, but at the same time, winning the first one and getting off
to a good start are equally important."
Sherman opens its 2009 season on Aug. 28 at Lake Dallas and
quarterback James Franklin, who has committed to the University of
Missouri.
 Comments ... 19 found!
Railings for Bearcat Statum : 9/7/2009
This is very important for the seniors that attend the football games. My wife and I have been season ticket holders for years. needless to say that my wife and I are getting older and have trouble getting up and down the steap steps. Tou have remodle the stadium and it is very nice ,but you did not do a thing the help the seniors get up and down the staires. As a matter a fact I notice a younger teanager the other night nearly break his head. This is very serious and you all need to take this into consideration. If the board pass'es anything else this year please have them consider the PLEA. My wife is 66 yrs old and I am 75 yrs old. It would give us a more secure hold if we had Railings right down the middle of every isle. In adult area. We are in Sec B Row S. We would sure be thankful for this consideration. Please,bring this up at the next meeting.
bearfrog
Best player in Sherman history : 7/17/2009
OK, let's end the debate. I'm tired of you old has beens putting down the accomplishments of Waymon James. I've had people with the nerve of telling me he's not in the top five possibly the top 10 all time at the school? Are you kidding me? Yeah, a school with such a storied tradition whose top running back of all time couldn't be considered one of its best players. Sure you had Hunter Smith, but last time I checked, he's a punter. I don't care if it's the NFL. Same with Charlie Johnson, lucky to crack the starting lineup if someone isn't injured. Then I keep hearing about the 60s. Get over it! Waymon had to go against much stronger more skilled athletes who train year around to do what he accomplished. Yes, it can be argued, but if someone says Waymon is the best in school history, it really isn't that off the wall.
Speaks for itself
Best player in Sherman history : 7/17/2009
OK, let's end the debate. I'm tired of you old has beens putting down the accomplishments of Waymon James. I've had people with the nerve of telling me he's not in the top five possibly the top 10 all time at the school? Are you kidding me? Yeah, a school with such a storied tradition whose top running back of all time couldn't be considered one of its best players. Sure you had Hunter Smith, but last time I checked, he's a punter. I don't care if it's the NFL. Same with Charlie Johnson, lucky to crack the starting lineup if someone isn't injured. Then I keep hearing about the 60s. Get over it! Waymon had to go against much stronger more skilled athletes who train year around to do what he accomplished. Yes, it can be argued, but if someone says Waymon is the best in school history, it really isn't that off the wall.
Speaks for itself
excitement : 7/16/2009
What kind of excitment? Could you please elaborate?
debbiedean
turnover : 7/16/2009
It seems to me that there's been a lot of turnover in the career of coaches. Can anyone explain why? Is a winning record all that important? Please help me understand.
confused
curious : 7/16/2009
Why did this coach leave Clovis? Just wondering.
DC2BN
Player : 7/14/2009
I don't have a clue who this"best player" in Sherman history was. I'm sure you are talking about the class of 65 or 66 that had numerous players that "stood out"
Great One
doesnt matter!!! : 7/9/2009.....get'er done : 7/14/2009
You are obvioulsy a Denison Fan! Get a grip! The total record says enough! We will be fine this year, Everyone needs to quit critisizing this man! Move on, shut your face and see what happens! Lets be optimistic for change. You call yourselves Christians, act like it!
Fed up with Back Talk
oh BABY! : 7/10/2009
I heard that we may have more excitement in the fieldhouse! This could be big for us. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
birdie told me
doesnt matter!!! : 7/9/2009
Lets get down to what everyone is really thinking. Can this new coach put Sherman in a place to compete for a district Title? the Answer is NO!!! Sherman Fans you are in a tough spot right now, loseing arguably the best player in sherman history and with that being said you were 1-2 againstthe Jackets the past three years. All of which you had the better team other than last year. It will not matter who is roaming the sidelines because guess what the coach doesn't play, and the same can be said for every other team in the state. It's about jesse's and Joe's and if you don't have em, you will not win. Sorry Bearcats, you can't outscore McKinney and you have no shot in H*** beating Denison this year, You will be lucky if November 7th doesn't turn into the Massacre at Munson Stadium!!! you are in a bottom heavy district and believe it or not you are one of the teams at the bottom. Good Luck this year it could be a long year, but Hey at least you have a good? coach...
get'er done
Bad Example : 7/9/2009
CW obviously took a risk by making an out of state hire. That said, what is disturbing is that he was hired having given his word of a sustained commitment to CW. Certainly his words are not binding, but the duplicity shown by betraying his commitment to his Championship Football Team (at the 11th hour) is precisely the lesson that athletes today DO NOT need to learn....whether it be in Calfornia or Texas. So lose the homer accolades, think about it, and you'll realize that with his first step at Sherman, he has already shown us that he is a bad example.
av-rated
Interviewing is never a waster of time... : 7/9/2009
To: Should hire local, Coach Heath did not waste his time on this. He will be better prepared for the next interview. A job interview is never a "waste of time". Shake off that "loser attitude".
Bearcat FanM9NMM
: 7/8/2009
Just kind of wondering why you all even interviewed the two local coordinators if you were looking for someone with head coaching experience????? Sounds like a waste of their time if there was never a chance that they'd be hired. I know that Coach Heath is an outstanding man/coach. I hope that a great job comes his way!! The school that gets him will be lucky!!
Should hire local
Big Fan : 7/8/2009
With all due respect, this is the same Clovis West school district that ran off Kinne's predecessor Marty Martin after his team lost in their version of the state championship game by three points. It's not appropriate to talk about Coach Kinne and what he did or didn't do in coming back home. He did the program a favor after what seems an inexcusable dismissal in the previous regime. What goes around certainly does come around.
Bearcat Beat Writer
$100K : 7/8/2009
We as newspaper reporters have to have thick skins. No offense taken. :) Thanks for reading and making the kind comments. Now to summer! :)
Bearcat Beat Writer
Respect II : 7/8/2009
I certainly hope that the new team enjoys this coach. However, from a respect standpoint, the coach left CLovis West without saying a word to the school, the district, and especially the team. I just wish he would have shown some respect to his old team, while moving forward with his career choice.
BigFan
not posting the comments : 7/8/2009
Kudos to Mr. Clifton and the Herald Democrat for not putting up the comments being posted. I think that is probably best for everyone involved as emotions were spiraling out of control. In an attempt to get the "outside hire" message out there, I was also emotional and critical of Mr. Clifton but he did a good job reporting this process as it played out.
Needs to be $100K or more
Respect : 7/8/2009
I really hope that Coach Kinne can lead this program to what it deserves to be, and by program I mean the entire sports program at SHS. Respect from top to bottom needs to happen. Too many of these athelets are allowed to get away with disrespecting coaches and teachers. I have been watching it for the last several years and nobody does anything. My kids know that you don't have to like the coach, but you will respect the coach, both girls and boys. But most athelets here are brought up differently than my kids I guess. One comment that Coach Kinne has made that really stood out to me was "I'm excited to be here and look forward to working with these athletes in the right matter and serving as a Christian role model for these guys." If he can achieve this, the program will change from within, and that is when great things happen. Good luck and God Bless.
Tank
New Coach : 7/8/2009
Welcome Coach, Denison could use the competion. By the way, you know your wife, being a Jacket fan at heart, will be cheering deep down inside for the Jackets to win when we meet the Bearcats, LOLOLO. GO JACKETS!!!
Jacket fan
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