Hunt named new AD, head football coach
By MIKE KONVICKA mkonvicka@journal-spectator.com

HUNT

It took Wharton ISD board members only 20 minutes to name Stacey Hunt as the new athletic director and head football coach Tuesday. The board posted an agenda Monday for an emergency meeting noon Tuesday.

Hunt, 38, has been serving the same position at Class A Granger where Wharton's new superintendent, James Bartosh, hails from.

"Every- body I talked to when I inquired about the job, said what a great city Wharton was," said Hunt, who was in Wharton Tuesday. "It was an opportunity to move up to a 3A school."

He'll start his duties next Monday.

Hunt thinks Wharton is a good fit for he and his family.

"I don't want to get into a school that's too big," said Hunt. "I want my kids to be raised in a small town and close knit community like this."

Hunt's 2007 football team went 12- 2. The Lions went 8-4 in 2006.

He has a 38-28 record in six years as a head coach after serving two as an assistant.

Hunt previously coached at Class A Maypearl, and was an assistant coach in Elgin, Okla.

He will replace Gary Van Sant, who tendered his resignation April 18 to take a job in Tomball.

Hunt graduated high school in Cache, Okla. and played college ball at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford.

He doesn't feel the transition from a Class A to 3A program will be difficult.

"Obviously there will be more kids involved in the program," said Hunt.

The new AD has coached many different sports.

"I've coached everything from girls basketball to golf to track," Hunt said.

As for football, Hunt says he's been around the game his entire life.

"My dad was a high school football coach for 25 years and I've played at the collegiate level," he said.

He said he believes in sports sharing athletes with each other.

"One of the things that I want to stress here is that kids are going to have the ability to participate in whatever sport they want to," Hunt said.

"I think it starts with an overall strength and conditioning program that just doesn't gear toward one particular sport. You have to get stronger and become a better athlete for every sport," he said.

"I want to emphasize to the other coaches that we have to support each others programs, share athletes and work together."

Getting to know the Wharton students and coaching staff is his first priority.

"I'll evaluate the kids and the staff and go from there," Hunt said.

Discipline will also be emphasized.

"I think kids want to be disciplined and they want to do the right thing. If kids don't practice, act right and make their grades, they are not going to play," he said.

While Hunt is a defensive expert, he ran Granger's offense this past season.

He also hopes to get more kids who are walking the halls out to participate.

"Hopefully I can get out every kid that wants to participate. Sometimes they don't want too, but when they see the program is being successful and how much fun they are having, hopefully that will attract them."

A good coaching staff is also important.

"You have to build a good coaching staff and get ones who can relate to kids. You can't do that by yourself, because everyone relates to somebody different."

As far as bringing any coaches in from the staff at Granger, he'll have to evaluate the ones in Wharton first.

"We'll have to see where certain people fit in and try to fill from there," Hunt said.

He'll start working with the underclassmen during spring conditioning.

"I already know that we have to get stronger and stress the weight room.

"Part of my deal is bigger, faster and stronger. If they want to get faster for any sport they are playing, track is going to benefit every sport across the board," he said.

Wharton will be in its new realigned football district 26-3A this season with Needville, Columbia, Sweeny, Stafford and Royal.

"To be the best you have to beat the best," Hunt said.

He hinted that his style is to run the football, but he'll field a 7-on-7 team to work on passing.

"It's still football and it has the kids still playing and running."

Hunt said he will support girls athletics as well.

"I look forward to it and from what I understand we have some outstanding girl athletes," Hunt said.

Hunt will be searching for a new girls basketball coach to replace Laura Guidry who resigned earlier in the month, a new trainer to replace Amii Johnson and an assistant football coach.

Hunt will be joined in Wharton by his wife Rachelle; daughters Jordan, 13, and Blair, 10; and son Payton, 8.