Jacksboro loses head mentor

After seven years at the helm of the Tigers, Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Brian Hodnett is stepping down to take the same position at Haskell.

He said a number of factors led to the decision, including being closer to family. He first interviewed for the position in January and had a second and final interview last night. Hodnett was offered the job this morning.

Hodnett spoke to his athletes Friday morning and told them his leaving was not his choice. 

During the February 2016 Jacksboro ISD School Board meeting, trustees met in closed session to deliberate contract renewals for administrators including the athletic director. Following the closed session, the board voted to renew all those considered for two years except Hodnett’s. His contract was extended for a year after Hodnett met with the board in another closed session during a special called meeting a week later.

“All I’ve asked of our kids is through your times of adversity is to have a good attitude and work hard through your adversity,” Hodnett said. “That’s what Mandy and I have tried to do through all of this is work through it and have a good attitude and try to model the example we want for the kids.”

Though he is sad to leave Jacksboro, he feels like his new position will be a good situation for his family.

“Location was a huge factor in the decision,” Hodnett said. “The timing was right. The job will be good for me, my wife and the boys.”

Hodnett is leaving the program after its best season in three years. The Tigers qualified for the postseason for the first time in three years, finishing fourth in District 5-3A Division II and with a 6-5 record.

The mentor, who came here from Graham, said the people of Jacksboro have been good to him and he wished to thank everyone for their hospitality.

“Jacksboro has been great to me and my family the last seven years,” Hodnett said in a conversation Friday morning. “We have been helped with our four boys by both our school family, our church family for which we will ever be grateful.”

Hodnett said he will be signing a contract next week. During the transition period, he says he has cleaning up to do. He said his wife, a teacher at Jacksboro Elementary, and his children will finish the year here but he is expecting to be in Haskell fairly quickly to begin working with the Indians.

Haskell went 4-6 in 2016.

Read more on the transistion in the Feb. 17 Herald-Gazette.