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Tuesday, March 27, 2001
Keese named Refugio High School football coach
Former assistant under Harris was named following a unanimous vote of school board
By Lee Goddard
Caller-Times
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| Keese |
Rick Keese was named the 19th football coach in the history of Refugio High School Monday night, following a unanimous vote from the Refugio Independent School District school board.
Keese, who could not be reached for comment, will serve as both the head football coach and athletic director.
He had been an assistant football coach at the program since the 1995 season, serving as the offensive line coach and offensive coordinator under George Harris, who is leaving Refugio to accept the head coaching and athletic director position at Gregory-Portland.
Refugio ISD superintendent Jack Morgan, who made the recommendation to the board that Keese be hired, said Keese's familiarity with the staff had an impact on his selection as head coach.
"He had worked for coach Harris," Morgan said. "He knows the system. He knows what works and will fine-tune it."
Morgan said the vote was unanimous, with all six of the board members present voting to hire Keese.
He added that Keese, who was an assistant at Sinton before heading to Refugio, will be the third consecutive Refugio coach chosen from the ranks of the Bobcats' assistants. Harris worked under Bobby Kelly, who was hired after serving as an assistant to Teddy Gray.
Morgan also said Monday's board meeting was called to give Harris' assistants a chance to apply for the opening. Keese, along with line coach Scooter Hesseltine, was considered in the board's selection process. Had the board selected neither candidate then the search would have been thrown open for candidates from outside Refugio.
"We have one of the most successful 2A schools in the state," Morgan said. "It's pretty hard for someone to come in from the outside and do a whole lot better."
Tradition is strong at the school. The Bobcats have made the playoffs every season since 1992, and 22 of the past 23 seasons.
Refugio hasn't suffered a losing season since 1977.
Keese, who played football at Ingleside from 1962-64, succeeds two successful, long-entrenched coaches.
Harris, who served nine seasons as the head coach, registered a 106-17-1 record at the school, and guided the team to three state semifinal appearances. In eight of his nine seasons, the Bobcats at least made the regional semifinals in the state playoffs, as well as eight district titles.
Prior to Harris taking on the role of head coach, Refugio had Kelly, who managed a 129-22-4 mark in his 12 seasons as head coach. With the exception of 1991, Kelly's final year, the Bobcats made the playoffs every season during his tenure. Kelly led Refugio to its first - and currently last - outright state football championship during the 1982 season. The Bobcats had a shared title in 1970.
Harris, with an .859 winning percentage at the school, and Kelly, who comes in at .845, are the two most successful coaches at the school in terms of winning percentage. Six of the school's coaches check in with winning percentages of .700 or better.
Staff writer Lee Goddard can be reached at 886-3613 or by e-mail at goddardl@caller.com
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a Scripps Howard newspaper. All rights reserved.
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