Nick Saban's not for sale. Texas learned that lesson the hard way.
These rumors of Coach Fairlcoth's possible departure are disturbing. The kind of disturbing that lures a long-dormant messageboard user out of hibernation the same night his college alma mater wins a conference title over the #1 team in the country.
I know very little regarding Coach Faircloth's future at PN-G from firsthand knowledge. Generally, I avoid spreading rumors when I don't know the information to be accurate from firsthand knowledge, and on the occasions when I think it's necessary to discuss those rumors, I always make certain to note that I can't speak to their actual veracity. This is one of those occasions. Simply put, I have no idea whether it's true that Coach Faircloth's position at PN-G is in jeopardy.
Here's what I do know. I first heard word that Coach Faircloth's tenure at PN-G may be at risk six weeks ago. I've heard several different iterations of that rumor in the weeks since. I trust, and deeply respect, many of the sources that have brought these rumors to my attention, but in each case, those sources have only been able to provide me with information on a secondhand basis. What little direct evidence I've been able to glean for myself has, if anything, contradicted rumors of Faircloth's impending departure, or at least rumors that the school board has chosen not to renew his contract. For these reasons, and in light of a highly successful 2021 football season that saw the Indians exceed all expectation, I've been highly skeptical of these rumors, and have deliberately chosen only to discuss them when someone else brings them up. I remain skeptical of these rumors now, though I'll admit to some concern in the face of their apparent durability and, now, their growing prevalence among PN-G fans.
Brandon Faircloth has been the best head football coach and athletic director PN-G has had in at least 40 years. That is not a statement I make lightly; the evidence is overwhelming. PN-G's all-time win ratio on the football field is .610. Coach Faircloth's win ratio at PN-G is .667, the best of any PN-G coach since Danny Malone. The Indians currently have an active playoff streak stretching back nine consecutive appearances, an all-time school record. The Indians have gone three rounds deep in the playoffs four of the last six seasons, the most consistent streak of deep playoff runs PN-G has had since Doug Ethridge's tenure at PN-G in the 1970s. Coach Faircloth has both more wins and more playoff appearances to his name than any football coach in PN-G history.
Statistically speaking, the indisputable best quarterback in PN-G history, several runners-up at the quarterback position, the indisputable best receiver in PN-G history, several runners-up at that position, two of the best runningbacks in PN-G history, and perhaps the best kicker in PN-G history have all been coached by Brandon Faircloth. The best offenses to ever play for PN-G have been coached by Brandon Faircloth, and one of the best defenses in school history was coached by him as well. Coach Faircloth has fielded one of the only four PN-G players in school history to earn All-American honors. He's coached a school record 39 players to achieve All-State honors - fifteen more than Coach Ethridge. Dozens of PN-G players have simultaneously earned academic honors. Coach Faircloth has sent more football players on to play college ball than any coach in PN-G history. Roschon Johnson, Blake Bost, Adam Morse, Tate Sandell - the list goes on. You can verify all of these statistics and all of these facts on our outstanding fan-made website, www.pngindians.com.
The lone accomplishment claimed by other PN-G coaches that has eluded Coach Faircloth as a head coach is a state championship appearance. No Golden Triangle team in the same classification as PN-G (4A prior to 2014, 5A since then) has made a state championship appearance since West Orange-Stark in 2000. Take this from a die-hard PN-G native turned reluctant Austin-area resident: the amount of wealth, funding, resources and talent concentrated in suburban Texas football programs far and away exceeds anything small town schools like PN-G are able to amass, and even exceeds what PN-G was able to pull together in the days before Robin Hood. Given the amount of money he threw into Highland Park's program, there's an argument to be made that Jerry Jones effectively bought his grandson a state championship. Schools like Westlake, Lake Travis, Cedar Park, Austin Vandegrift, Euless Trinity, Southlake Carroll, Aledo and Katy Cinco Ranch have backing from dozens of multi-millionaires, professional players, coaches and trainers alike, and in some cases, literal billionaires. This was not the case in the 1950s, the 1970s or the 1990s. The reason that you see programs like Crosby and Barbers Hill on the rise is because they're rapidly becoming suburban programs with that kind of cash on hand. The days of the upper level classifications in Texas high school football (i.e., the 6A and 5A divisions) being dominated by rural schools like PN-G, Odessa Permian, Tyler Lee, Waco Midway and the like are, at least for the moment, gone. The fact that Coach Faircloth has managed to keep PN-G competitive despite our area's relative disadvantage is a testament to his coaching prowess in and of itself.
Moreover, Coach Faircloth's accomplishments are not limited to his coaching on the football field. As athletic director, it was Brandon Faircloth who made the brilliant decision to hire Coach Carter as head baseball coach. Coach Carter brought PN-G its first state title in baseball just four years ago. If I'm not mistaken, that also constituted PN-G's first state title in any sport since Coach Comeaux's last state championship run with the Rock-a-Noos in 1989. In the Faircloth era, both the boys' and girls' soccer teams have repeatedly made deep playoff runs, ending several seasons on the cusp of the state tournament. Our basketball teams, consistently PN-G's least successful athletic programs, have found their way to the playoffs. Our success in track and field has improved tremendously. To put it succinctly, the last time PN-G experienced the level of athletic success across the board that it has had with Brandon Faircloth in the fieldhouse, I wasn't born yet.
I know and respect several members of the PN-GISD administration and school board; in truth, my skepticism of these rumors is partly based on my faith in their ability to exercise good judgment. I went to school with Jake Lefort's son and Dallon James's younger sisters. I've shared lunch with Lana Parker. Scott Ryan was my assistant principal in middle school. I went to church with Jon Deckert and his family for several years. Julie Gauthier has been a workhorse for both PN-GISD and the City of Port Neches, and the fruits of her labors are demonstrable. I have been very pleased with their leadership the last several years. The PN-G community is two years or less away from all new elementary schools in the district, only ten years after replacing both middle schools and the stadium, and completely renovating the high school. In my opinion, PN-GISD made the best decisions of any school district in the state with respect to its COVID response, and navigated all the controversies of 2020 as best as anyone could expect. From cybersecurity breaches to explosions to hurricanes to freezes, the district's leadership has repeatedly shown its ability to maintain a high quality of education despite substantially greater adversity than anything the rest of the state has had to contend with. The district is in good fiscal shape, and has shown sustained success in non-athletic extracurricular pursuits, including the band, which is obviously of particular significance to me. The district also secured excellent ratings in all the state's academic metrics prior to COVID, and has consistently been rated one of the best school districts in the state in independent studies conducted by third party entities. Personally, I take immense pride in the fact that PN-GISD actually outscored Austin's best local school district by a point in the state's scoring system in 2019. There's no doubt in my mind PN-G continues to offer the best public education you can find anywhere in this state east of IH-45. Speaking from personal experience, Austin's policy circles are familiar with the district's strong reputation.
But if my skepticism of these rumors is misplaced, and if it is in fact the case that in spite of Coach Faircloth's clear, undeniable accolades and accomplishments, either PN-GISD will decline to renew Coach Faircloth's contract, or Coach Faircloth will voluntarily leave PN-GISD under pressure from the school board or administration, it will be the first time in several years that I've had good reason to reconsider the faith I have in the party or parties responsible for his departure. Forcing Coach Faircloth's ouster, whether directly or through indirect means, would reflect a severe error in judgment which would have consequences for PN-G students for generations to come - a mistake even worse than running off Danny Malone, which will likely result in similar or worse consequences, and the same lingering shame and regret. To say nothing of losing Coach Faircloth's demonstrated ability to develop successful PN-G athletes and programming, it would also clearly signal to any potential replacement that a three round playoff run capping off thirteen years of unquestionably and consistently successful leadership is not enough to satisfy the powers that be at PN-G, or worse yet, to overcome local political grudges. Ending Coach Faircloth's tenure prematurely would be a grave disservice to the PN-G community and, more importantly, its kids. I have no doubt whatsoever that I am not the only member of the PN-G community who feels this way.
For PN-G's sake, here's hoping these rumors are nothing more than idle gossip. Scalp 'em, Indians.
PNG “recent” coaching changes and their final year.
Matt Burnett
3-6, Missed Playoffs (2008)
Tim Own
2-7-1, Missed Playoffs (1993)
Danny Malone
7-4, Bi-District Finalist (1990)
Butch Troy
1-8, Missed Playoffs (1988)
BF just went 8-5 and took a team picked 5th to the third round. Not speaking as a media member, strictly as an alum and current resident in the district, I would be extremely disappointed is this ends up happening.
Call them out. I’d like to see names and receipts. I can’t believe that someone that can’t produce profit or value for their city would abuse their position. Of course I am being very facetious in my statement.
This is crazy! Been hearing about this for the last 4-5 weeks. Just didn’t want to see it really happen. Work performance, kids performing academically, running a winning, disciplined program should be the deciding factors. Not personal agendas of an administration or board!
Agree it’s not the time. Too many returners coming back, not to mention his son will be a senior. Daughter is freshman and a star soccer player. Not sure board will do anything about this but they definitely won’t if they don’t hear from people that elected them. School Board can blame superintendent if this goes bad.
It’s true: resign or non-renew. Pretty sorry way to treat the winningest coach in PNG history…They want him to resign so it looks like his choice to leave but that’s not the case, he is being forced.
