New pipeline into southeast Texas??

[DGScott975]

Harrison to be Memorial football coachBy THE ENTERPRISE
February, 26, 2009

Kenny Harrison is the next football coach at Memorial High School.

The Port Arthur ISD school board approved Harrison's promotion from assistant coach by a 7-0 vote at a board meeting Thursday night.

Harrison, 35, was chosen among 32 applicants for a job vacated by Ronnie Thompson, who resigned Dec. 18 but retained an athletic director's title.

Harrison has served as a Memorial assistant since the school opened in 2002. He is a Thomas Jefferson graduate who played wide receiver at the University of Texas.

Harrison is the third head coach in Memorial history. Dean Colbert coached the Titans for four seasons. Thompson, a TJ graduate who coached TJ to the 1980 state title game, coached the last three seasons.

Harrison served as offensive coordinator under Thompson.

Memorial went 3-6 last season. The school competes in District 21-5A with West Brook.

Memorial is one of four Southeast Texas high schools to have hired a new head coach.

 

[SabreHorn]

Harrison has a really rough road ahead of him. The PA enrollment has been going steadily downhill for 30+ years, and has been losing about 10% per year the last 3 years.

The district consolidated three HS into one and on their "unity day" had massive fights and arrests on campus. According to articles in The Beaumont Enterprise and PA News about a year ago, the teachers in the district have steadily moved their kids out of the district.

Are there quality athletes? Of course, and there always will be. Robert Joseph was likely the best Safety to wear our uniform since Richard Peavy and Jerry Gray. Colbert hid his previous problems (I believe the Enterprise said 4 times) and cost us two or three really outstanding players.

There may be $15 billion in new industrial construction in Southeast Texas, but the existing problems, gang violence, and "Meth war" will make Harrison's job one of the most difficult in the state. I wish him all the best, but hope he can use this as a stepping stone to a better position in a couple of years.