?Gainesville Head Coach James Polk recently invited his longtime head coach Richard Barrett, Kennedale Wildcats to make a presentation at a Gainesville coaching clinic that was held yesterday.? The following is a reprint of an article from the Gainesville? Register posted on the day of? the clinic.??{{more: continue …}}?
By Patrick Hayslip Sports Editor [email protected]GAINESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL HOST COACHING CLINICBy PatrickHayslip Sports Editor [email protected]
??Gainesville High School athletic director and head football coach James Polk last hosted a coaching clinic 10 years ago, but since he has been at Gainesville, he has wanted to host another.?
Headlining today?s program is North Texas University offensive coordinator and former Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell, who will speak at 7:30 a.m., followed by high school coaches Jake Fieszel of Gunter, Richard Barrett of Kennedale, Aubrey Sims of Iowa Park and Dale Matlock of Everman. [Aubrey Sims and James Polk were both former assistant coaches at Kennedale for Barrett]
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?It?s something I?ve always been wanting to do,? Polk said. ?We?ve got a good location to get some people up here, so I told the coaches that this is one of many things I?ve wanted to do this year and something to start having annually.?
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With different coaches touching on offense, defense and general formations, Polk said one of his main goals is to communicate and foster relationships within the coaching world.
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?It?s really more about the environment and finding people who really don?t mind talking football and sharing ideas,? Polk said. ?A lot of times you go to clinics and (speakers) don?t want to share their secrets, but in my opinion there are no secrets.
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“Nobody has invented a new run play, pass scheme or blocking name. It?s about teaching and if you?re kids can pick it up.?
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Polk said the key to his speeches at past clinics has been to focus on how to get the best out of his players and how to speak to his coaches and players.
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?It?s about believing in what you?re doing and to help some coach out there, young or old,? Polk said. ?Hopefully you can add an idea to their philosophy or their scheme. I think we?re all equal in knowledge, but it?s about how you deliver your message to your kids and coaches that gets things done.?
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Polk said having Harrell is a nice addition to a solid list of presenters.
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?We were going to have this regardless, but I think he adds more pop to it,? Polk said. ?I developed a relationship with him because I?m good buddies with his brother Zac. I got to know him through coaching and we know a bunch of the same people. I got to talking to Graham and told him how good of an opportunity it would be for him to interact with coaches and get to know them.?
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Rounding out the other coaches set to speak, they bring a pedigree of winning that the rest of the coaches can learn plenty from according to Polk.
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?Gunter just won state and is a successful program,? Polk said. ?Everman, in the past 20 years that Coach Matlock has been affiliated with that program, they?ve won two state titles along with several regional titles. Sims at Iowa Park has been a head coach for 13 years and has like a 70 percent winning percentage. Coach Barrett has over 200 wins.?
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For some coaches, the clinic can help propel them into preparation for future head coaching gigs.
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?It is an opportunity to network for sure because I imagine everyone in the room either has been or wants to be a head coach someday,? Polk said. ?It?s an opportunity for them to meet different people. I know I have coaches on my staff that are ready to be head coaches. It?s about comparing ideas and going from there.??
Patrick Hayslip can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @PatrickHayslip
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