howeenterprise.com
Monday, August 17, 2015
Page #2
Rhoten "I had no idea what I was doing." said Rhoten. "When I got Nashville, there were three coaches. I learned pretty quickly that it was a lot of hard work. We did it all, from painting the field and everything. It was a real culture shock to me." After being in Tennessee for nine months and both he and his wife (who is also a teacher) missing Texas, an opportunity came open for him to get a coaching position at Flower Mound Marcus in 1996. That first year, Marcus went 10-4 and followed that up with a 14-2 state championship in 1997. "That was pretty cool. I was more of a scout guy and helping out with the grunt work." said Rhoten. He left Marcus and started coaching in Belton as offensive coordinator, where they went 9-2 the first year, but followed that with an 0-10 season. That put the head coach on the chopping block and he told the assistants to start looking elsewhere. Rhoten went to Paris Chisum "That was my first taste of small school Texas football." said Rhoten. "My oldest girl Landry was in third grade and I thought that a school that size was where I wanted my child to grow up in. I like the feel of a small school." While at Chisum, he developed a friendship with with Lance Angel, the former coach at Cooper. Angel had tried to get him to come to Canton where he had just taken the head coaching position. After initially refusing, when
the offensive coordinator position opened up, he we left off in year four in Canton, the kids in jumped all over it. With his wife Kristi being Robinson picked it right up in year one." from Canton, it was an easy sell. After being happy at Robinson for a couple of "It was a good move." said Rhoten. "It was my years, he decided to put in a resume at dream place to be because she's from there and Whitewright in 2013 for the athletic director where we always called home." and head coaching position. That year, Zack Hudson was also a finalist for the Whitewright While at Canton, he coached future NFL player job. Keavon Milton and was surrounded by really talented players. They started running the "Tony "I kind of felt like I was being called to Franklin spread offense system" which is a fast- continue the AD side of things." said Rhoten. paced no-huddle offense that feels like you're "God was telling me to get back in to what I watching a NASCAR race. After Angel left was supposed to be doing." after a 5-5 season, Rhoten became a lead man for the first time in his career as the athletic director While at Whitewright, he soon felt that it wasn't and head coach at Canton in 2010. the right fit. After sending his resume out for several athletic director positions, he was "We went 10-2 and got beat by Lindale and offered one, but turned it down. Carthage. It was a stellar year." said Rhoten. "Our quarterback threw for about 4,000 yards "Through the last four or five years, I've just that year. We were lighting it up." been led to believe that it's not really where you're at, but who you're with." said Rhoten. During that time, Kristi's mom was diagnosed "And (Zack) Hudson and (Kevin) Wilson and with cancer and underwent hospice in their the leadership here is outstanding. They are house and she passed away in their daughter's just good people and I just kept getting a pull to bed. be here. Logic just kept telling me to create some normalcy by staying put. Give your Rhoten said that even though he had the family a home and everything here just felt coaching position he had dreamed of, his family right to us." wasn't happy. "It was a real turbulent time with the family there and God was telling me to step Rhoten will take on the role of defensive back and prioritize. So I went to Waco coordinator in football and middle school Robinson to become the offensive coordinator. assistant principal. The administration side is Me and my three have to be happy. That's what new for him but he feels like it could be a great it's about." opportunity for him and his family. Kristi was also hired by the district and will teach third continued on Page #10 "It was just unbelievable." said Rhoten. "Where grade.
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