TarponFanInNorthTexas
01-27-2009, 09:01 AM
Just saw the article today, BIG name from the TAPPS circuit gets the nod.
Hidalgo hires Kirk as next football coach
January 26, 2009 - 10:25 PM
Stephen K. Lee
RGVSports.com
The Hidalgo ISD Board of Trustees revealed the new face of Hidalgo High School football Monday evening at the Hidalgo ISD auditorium and, boy, does he have a resume.
Clarence "Robin" Kirk of Houston's St. Pius X High School was selected as the Pirates' new football head coach by a unanimous board meeting vote.
Hidalgo athletic director Albert Guerra was said that Kirk perfectly fit the profile of the type of coach they were looking for.
"The committee had an open mind and we were going to find somebody that we felt was the best fit for our student athletes here at Hidalgo ISD," Guerra said. "And most certainly coach Kirk's humility, accomplishments and character filled all those questions that we might have had. As an open-minded committee, we ask ourself all those things and he fit the bill. He fit the mold."
Kirk, a 1972 alum of St. Pius X, led the Panthers to three TAPPS state championships as head coach and athletic director. As the Panthers defensive coordinator and offensive line coach from 1976-79, Kirk coached current Houston Texans head coach Gary Kubiak, who was an all-state quarterback at St. Pius X before starring as a player at Texas A&M and as a coach in the NFL.
Kirk, who totaled an 88-30 record over 10 years as St. Pius X's head coach, said that he felt that it was time for a change of scenery.
"Well, I've been at St. Pius for 10 years as the head coach and we've had a lot of success," he said. "After you've been somewhere that long, with all of the success that we had, I started looking around at different places that had openings."
Kirk takes over a Hidalgo football program that went 26-18 over the past four seasons with former coach Jorge Pena, who resigned back in December. The Pirates were 6-4 in 2008 and missed the playoffs.
In 1999, his first year as St. Pius X's head coach, Kirk led the Panthers to an 11-3 record and a state championship. He indicated that he intends to work just as hard to try to have a repeat of instant success.
"We understand what we need to do, but we're certainly going into next season with kids that are juniors and sophomores and we want to take it to another level. And we're going to work our tails off to get it next year."
Over the past three years, Kirk's St. Pius X squads totaled a 31-5 record, including a perfect 13-0 season in 2006. As for the coming task of facing competition in the public school ranks, Kirk has already been doing that for the past 10 years.
"We played almost all public 4 and 5A schools where I was at," he said, "So the problem was, over there, we didn't have all full-time coaches and we didn't have all of the facilities that they have in the public schools. So I felt like we were a little bit in a tough situation there. What makes it good here, at the public school you have a lot more resources to deal with and of course the athletic (aspect) versus what you have in the private school."
Though Kirk, 54, is a lifelong Houstonian, he is no stranger to the Valley. His wife, Maggie Cuellar Kirk, is from the area and graduated from Weslaco High in 1986. On their first visit to Hidalgo, they were both very impressed.
"We felt like some good things were happening (at Hidalgo), so we asked if we could come down and just look at the facilities and everything before we put in our application," said Kirk, who will work out the figures of his contract Tuesday morning, "They said, ‘Sure, come on.' And I'll be doggone, it was just absolutely phenomenal. The interest they have here in athletics and football and the logistics of their system they have here is unbelievable. They have great facilities that are going to get better and it's just a place that's set up for success."
Hidalgo made a good impression with Kirk when it allowed him to bring three members of his coaching staff.
"They're allowing me, which is just amazing, to bring an offensive coordinator, a defensive coordinator and a special teams coordinator," Kirk said. "These people in Hidalgo are just phenomenal people to deal with. I've never ever in my life dealt with people as professional and caring as they are."
There are currently five in the running for the three staff openings.
Hidalgo athletic director Albert Guerra said that Kirk and Los Fresnos defensive coordinator Jason Wheeler were the top two candidates.
Guerra indicated that he felt relieved to have a football coach in place after a month-long vacancy.
"When you don't have a football coach in place - yeah that becomes quite a weight on your shoulders," he said. "We're ecstatic to have, first of all, the process and everything that has come about with coach Kirk. We're extremely ecstatic about it."
Stephen K. Lee covers high school sports for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4442 or via e-mail at slee@themonitor.com.
Hidalgo hires Kirk as next football coach
January 26, 2009 - 10:25 PM
Stephen K. Lee
RGVSports.com
The Hidalgo ISD Board of Trustees revealed the new face of Hidalgo High School football Monday evening at the Hidalgo ISD auditorium and, boy, does he have a resume.
Clarence "Robin" Kirk of Houston's St. Pius X High School was selected as the Pirates' new football head coach by a unanimous board meeting vote.
Hidalgo athletic director Albert Guerra was said that Kirk perfectly fit the profile of the type of coach they were looking for.
"The committee had an open mind and we were going to find somebody that we felt was the best fit for our student athletes here at Hidalgo ISD," Guerra said. "And most certainly coach Kirk's humility, accomplishments and character filled all those questions that we might have had. As an open-minded committee, we ask ourself all those things and he fit the bill. He fit the mold."
Kirk, a 1972 alum of St. Pius X, led the Panthers to three TAPPS state championships as head coach and athletic director. As the Panthers defensive coordinator and offensive line coach from 1976-79, Kirk coached current Houston Texans head coach Gary Kubiak, who was an all-state quarterback at St. Pius X before starring as a player at Texas A&M and as a coach in the NFL.
Kirk, who totaled an 88-30 record over 10 years as St. Pius X's head coach, said that he felt that it was time for a change of scenery.
"Well, I've been at St. Pius for 10 years as the head coach and we've had a lot of success," he said. "After you've been somewhere that long, with all of the success that we had, I started looking around at different places that had openings."
Kirk takes over a Hidalgo football program that went 26-18 over the past four seasons with former coach Jorge Pena, who resigned back in December. The Pirates were 6-4 in 2008 and missed the playoffs.
In 1999, his first year as St. Pius X's head coach, Kirk led the Panthers to an 11-3 record and a state championship. He indicated that he intends to work just as hard to try to have a repeat of instant success.
"We understand what we need to do, but we're certainly going into next season with kids that are juniors and sophomores and we want to take it to another level. And we're going to work our tails off to get it next year."
Over the past three years, Kirk's St. Pius X squads totaled a 31-5 record, including a perfect 13-0 season in 2006. As for the coming task of facing competition in the public school ranks, Kirk has already been doing that for the past 10 years.
"We played almost all public 4 and 5A schools where I was at," he said, "So the problem was, over there, we didn't have all full-time coaches and we didn't have all of the facilities that they have in the public schools. So I felt like we were a little bit in a tough situation there. What makes it good here, at the public school you have a lot more resources to deal with and of course the athletic (aspect) versus what you have in the private school."
Though Kirk, 54, is a lifelong Houstonian, he is no stranger to the Valley. His wife, Maggie Cuellar Kirk, is from the area and graduated from Weslaco High in 1986. On their first visit to Hidalgo, they were both very impressed.
"We felt like some good things were happening (at Hidalgo), so we asked if we could come down and just look at the facilities and everything before we put in our application," said Kirk, who will work out the figures of his contract Tuesday morning, "They said, ‘Sure, come on.' And I'll be doggone, it was just absolutely phenomenal. The interest they have here in athletics and football and the logistics of their system they have here is unbelievable. They have great facilities that are going to get better and it's just a place that's set up for success."
Hidalgo made a good impression with Kirk when it allowed him to bring three members of his coaching staff.
"They're allowing me, which is just amazing, to bring an offensive coordinator, a defensive coordinator and a special teams coordinator," Kirk said. "These people in Hidalgo are just phenomenal people to deal with. I've never ever in my life dealt with people as professional and caring as they are."
There are currently five in the running for the three staff openings.
Hidalgo athletic director Albert Guerra said that Kirk and Los Fresnos defensive coordinator Jason Wheeler were the top two candidates.
Guerra indicated that he felt relieved to have a football coach in place after a month-long vacancy.
"When you don't have a football coach in place - yeah that becomes quite a weight on your shoulders," he said. "We're ecstatic to have, first of all, the process and everything that has come about with coach Kirk. We're extremely ecstatic about it."
Stephen K. Lee covers high school sports for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4442 or via e-mail at slee@themonitor.com.