Area High School Coaches Speak AT Rotary Club Meeting
Posted by Bill Parker
on Aug 20, 2015
Area High School Coaches Speak At Rotary Club Meeting
Head Coaches (L-R) Jon Kay, Averion Hurts, Don Price, Dave Handal
East Harris County area high school coaches from Galena Park, North Shore, C.E. King and Channelview spoke before the North Shore Rotary Club's weekly meeting on Thursday, August 20, 2015. An annual event for many years, their presentation of their respective school's upcoming football season projections, predictions, players and challenges is one of the club's most attended meetings every year.
Dave Handal, head coach of the Galena Park High School Yellowjackets presented a rundown of this year's football team. Dave became the Head Football Coach and Campus Coordinator at Galena Park High School in the Spring of 2013. You can check out the team, schedule and statistics at http://www.galenaparkisd.com/athletics/gpFootball/index.php.
Coach Handal is a 1998 graduate of Texas A&M University. He joins the Galena Park coaching staff from Berkner High School in Richardson, Texas where he was a coach from 2001 - 2013. He spent the early part of his career as a Defensive Backs coach and later became Berkner's Defensive Coordinator. Coach Handal is married to Jill Handal and they have two children, Kasen and Keegan.
Don Price, head coach of the C.E. King High School Panthers presented a synopsis of his team for the 2015/2016 season. Don is the head football coach for the C. E. King High School Panthers. His career spans decades, starting back in 1974 at Levi Fry Junior High in Texas City, TX. He came to Sheldon ISD in 2012 and has been coaching the Panthers to victories ever since. Check out the Panthers 2015/2016 schedule and get information on the team members and coaches at http://www.sheldonisd.com/site/Default.aspx?PageID=2621.
Price has inspired many throughout the years, including the author of the article, Keith Grady. The piece, titled “Don Price and My Coaches,” recounts what Grady learned from Price and the other coaches while playing football in Hawkins, TX from 1981-1984.
“We are blessed to have Coach Price working for us. He continues to mold young boys into men,” said Jim Twardowski, Director of Athletics and Physical Education. “He is also shaping the next generation of coaches who will continue teaching the things he teaches.”
Coach Price was born in Port Arthur, Texas, at Saint Mary’s Hospital and was raised in Nederland, Texas where he graduated from high school and went to college. He moved to Mont Belvieu in 1992 to continue his coaching career at Barbers Hill ISD after several coaching stops along the way. He has resided in Mont Belvieu for 20 years.
Don has been married to his wife Cindy for 40 years this past May. They have three children: one daughter Brooke and two sons, Jay and Reagan all who have graduated from college. Cindy is a retired administrator from Barbers Hill ISD and is a practicing attorney for her own law firm.
Coach Price is featured in the August 2015 issue of “Texas Coach Magazine.” You can read the full article in the August 2015 issue of Texas Coach Magazine.
Averion Hurts, head coach of the Channelview Falcons presented an overview of his team and coaches for the 2015/2016 season. You can check out the Falcon's team, schedule and statistics at their website at http://chsfalcons.com/football.
Averion Hurts is entering his 7th season as Head Coach ath Channelview High School, where he graduated in 1986. He attended Howard Payne University on a football and track scholarship. He graduated from HPU in 1990 with a Bachelors Degree in Marketing. At Howard Payne, he earned All-Conference as a senior offensive linemen. He was six time All American in track and field.
Coach Hurts found a home in education in 1994, after a knee injury ended his professional football career. He began his teaching career in Pasadena Independent School District at Parkview Intermediate, teaching in the Adaptive Behavior Unit. After two years, , he followed his calling to the football field. His coaching career started at MacArthur High School in Aldine Independent School District. He spent six years at MacArthur, leaving as the Second Assistant. Coach Hurts then headed east to Baytown Lee High School for four years where he would become Defensive Coordinator in 2005. In 2006 he returned home to be the Head Coach at Channelview High School.
He has been married for 16 years, and has three children. Averion, his child, was a 2012 graduate from Channelview High School. His middle child Jalen is a freshmen at Channelview now. His only daughter, Kynnedy is in the second grade.
Jon Kay, head coach of the North Shore Mustangs gave a presentation of his team, coaches and schedule for the 2015/2016 season. A full schedule along with information and statistics can be viewed at http://www.galenaparkisd.com/athletics/nsFootball/coaches.php.
Coach Kay began his career as a science teacher and assistant coach at Cunningham Middle School in 1996. That was the beginning of a long, successful career which has landed Kay the job of his dreams - North Shore Senior High School Head Football Coach.
Kay has served in many roles over the span of his career: head freshman coach, defensive assistant, varsity secondary coach, recruiting coordinator, strength and conditioning coordinator, defensive coordinator, assistant head coach and athletic campus coordinator. Kay has been honored as the 2010 Greater Houston Coaches' Association Assistant Coach of the Year. Also, he has been invited to speak at numerous Texas coaching clinics.
On the personal side, Jon is married to Patricia Kay, who is Assistant Superintendent of Instruction at Crosby ISD. They have a two year old daughter, Grace Elizabeth and live in Crosby, TX.