By Megan Gray-Hatfield & Evan Grice Staff writers
For the first time since 2012, there will be a new face leading the Gainesville Leopards varsity football program, and for the first time since 2005 Gainesville High School has a new athletic director. {{more:[read more]}}
James Polk, 38, was named Gainesville Independent School District?s new athletic director Monday evening, along with being named to the position of head coach of the Leopards.
The GISD school board unanimously approved his hire with a motion by Place 7 Corey Hardin and seconded by Place 2 Ryan Green at the board?s monthly meeting.
A total of 107 applicants applied for the position, with only seven getting interviewed for the position, according to GISD Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Brasher.
Polk will replace former Leopards head football coach Keith Hall, who came to Gainesville in May of 2012 from Vernon High School, finishing last season with a 1-9 record, and a total overall record of 28-18 in four seasons with the Leopards, including a trip to the regional finals in his first season.
The position of athletic director came open following the resignation of former Leopards AD Eric Johns earlier this year.
With a new man in charge of the athletic program, the process for finding a new boys basketball coach will begin in the coming weeks.
Polk sat in the front row of a fairly packed room alongside his wife and two daughters as Will Presson, board president, called for the meeting to enter executive session to discuss hiring of an athletic director 10 minutes after 5 p.m. Monday.
This will be only the second head coaching job ever for Polk, who was in charge of the Snyder Tigers after being named head coach in April 2013.
SHS went 2-8 during Polk?s first season in charge of the Tigers, including an 0-4 district record in district 3-4A against Big Spring, Brownwood, Abilene Wylie, and Stephenville.
Last season, things improved for the Tigers as they finished 5-5 overall and 2-2 in district with wins over Big Spring and Stephenville, before falling to Mineral Wells in the Bi-district round of the playoffs.
Polk came to Snyder in 2012 from Grandview High School and was the defensive coordinator in 2013 after being a quarterbacks coach in 2012.
Before then, Polk spent 10 years as an assistant coach at Kennedale High School.
Gainesville will be in the new region 1 district 4-4A next season along with defending state runner-up Argyle, Burkburnett, Decatur, Sanger and Wichita Falls Hirschi.
The meeting reconvened at 5:48 p.m. to extend contracts with school employees, also discussed in executive session, followed by the recommendation of Polk?s hire by Brasher.
Polk thanked the school board and his wife, Brittenie, shortly after hearing the news. ?It is a blessing to be here,? he said. ?I?m very excited and can?t wait to get going.?
Presson said candidates for the position were interviewed during Spring Break last week.
