Search narrows for KISD AD

By Rey Sifuentes Jr.

A selected short list of nine candidates, out of 31 initial applicants, scheduled to be interviewed this past Friday for the position of Athletic Director and Head Football Coach of Kingsville Independent School District contained the names of a couple of current coaches at H.M. King High School; Sam Callis and Douglas Kent. Both Callis and Kent are in the twelfth year of their coaching careers.

A career assistant, Callis has been with KISD for the past three years as a head powerlifting coach and a football defensive coordinator.

“I offer consistency, which I feel is my biggest attribute, offering some stability to the athletic program” Callis said. “Just the fact that I have been here for three years with a program which has had several athletic directors and head football coaches for the last several years. My wife and I want to stay and plan to be here a long time.”

Callis is confident he can help KISD increase both its sports rosters and enrollment.

“Our numbers have come up somewhat and can still improve,” Callis said. “I think if we show some establishment it will increase our numbers more, and possibly skyrocket them, to where they need to be as far as competing with the other schools in the freshman, junior varsity and varsity levels.”

Should he get the job, Callis is already drawing up plans for next football season.

“Defensively we will pretty much be the same,” Callis said. “On offense we could bring some changes just to kind of fit the young kids we are going to have next year.

Kent, meanwhile, is in the middle of his first year with KISD - as an assistant in football and powerlifting - but has previous experience as an athletic director and head football coach. Last year, Kent was the athletic director and head football coach at H. Grady Spruce High School in the Dallas Independent School District.

“I have been a part of a lot of programs which have been successful; I was also defensive coordinator at Kimball High School in Dallas ISD where we went several rounds into the playoffs two years in a row,” Kent said in regards to his experience. “Beyond that, I have a love for coaching and expressing to the students being more than just an athlete, I want the kids to know that it is okay to be a smart jock, make good grades and still perform out on the field. I want to help them reach their potential and grow during their high school and teen years.”

Kent’s initiatory year with KISD has been very worthwhile, he said.

“It has been great, there are a lot of coaches who are very knowledgeable and have a burning desire to help their students succeed,” Kent said. “With every program and business you run there is always a certain way you would want to do it. There are things that will be tweaked if I -or anyone else - were to get the job and you have to be receptive to those changes and I have really enjoyed the kids and faculty here and spending time getting to know everyone.”

Should he get the job, Kent is ready to get down to business.

“The first thing I would do is sit down and evaluate the coaches and the kids,” Kent said. “I pretty much know what kind of talent we have coming back for football next year and what kind of offense and defense would be good for us to run. I would also evaluate the coaches as far as what our needs are.”

Also scheduled to be interviewed on Friday were Non-KISD aspirants Marcus Booker (Corpus Christi Carroll High School), Larry Calhoun (Lakeview Centennial High School), Meredith Hamilton (North Dallas High School), Kristopher Micheaux (Gonzales High School), John Martinez (L.D. Bell High School), Dusty Ortiz (Conroe Caney Creek High School) and Todd Watters (Little Elm High School).

After Friday’s interviews, KISD Superintendent Emilio Castro will make his final recommendation to school trustees this week. KISD’s eventual hire will replace Andrew Hrncir.