Hix to lead HHS football program

Change is in the air for Hennessey High School football…in more ways than one.

“We’re going to have the fastest moving offense,” new HHS head football coach and athletic director Paul Hix told his up and coming players Wednesday.

“It will feel like basketball. It will be that fast-paced…and we’ll be doing something you haven’t done in a long time: we’ll be going to the air.”

And about defense, the new Eagle coach said, “We’ll blitz a lot…There’s nothing more fun than making someone do something they didn’t plan to do.”

Hix, an All-State high school quarterback, talked to his prospective players at about 1:30 p.m. in the school’s Seminar Room.

That was after being hired for the two jobs on temporary contracts for the rest of this year and next year.

He was hired unanimously during a special meeting of the Hennessey Board of Education after the board went into executive session for more than an hour to discuss filling the two positions. All board members were present: President Patrick Griffin, Vice President Dr. James M. Matousek, Clerk Luke Lough, Joe Garrison and Cristopher Choate.

Hix starts work Monday, April 1, and asked players to come up to him when they see him in the hallways to introduce themselves. It will take him a little time to get all their names, he said.

Hix replaces Rick Luetjen as head coach and Nathan Hill as athletic director for the remainder of this school year and next year. Both Luetjen and Hill were hired as teachers at the board’s regular meeting March 11 before the board tabled a vote on extra duty coaching assignments for all sports.

The board is expected to approve the rest of the coaching assignments next month.

Coach Talks Transition

“I will challenge you to be better players on the field and will treat you as gentlemen off the field,” the new coach told the Eagle athletes.

“Transitions are always difficult,” he said, and later asked for their help in recruiting more players.

“Maybe you know others who haven’t played football, but play basketball, or other sports, he said. “Tag them to come out for spring practice to see if they like it…We don’t want them to miss out on the journey we’re going to take.

“It’s not going to be a walk in the park, but it’s going to be worth it. It’s going to be a retribution tour this next season.”

Hix said practices will be quick and fast-paced. They’ll be filmed and reviewed after the fact.

Hix also said he wants players to be able to go to as many football camps as possible.

Spring practice will be in mid-May he said, when one of the boys asked, then he stayed to shake hands with those who came forward.

Coach’s Playing Experience

Mannford High School, 1998-01 (All District, AllState Quarterback); Northeastern State University, 2001-05.

Experience

Offensive coordinator/ QB coach, Midwest City High School, 2017-current; head football coach, Moore High School, 2014-17; offensive coordinator/ QB coach, Stillwater High School, 2011-14; co-offensive coordinator/QB coach, Bixby High School, 2010-11; secondary, Texas State University, 2009-10; offensive coordinator/QB coach, Mannford High School, 2006-08.

Education

BS, Criminal Justice, Northeastern State University, 2005; University of Tulsa School of Law, 2006-08; MA in Law, Texas State University, 2010.

Teaching Certifications

U.S. History/Economics/Oklahoma History/ Government; World History/Geography; Special Ed/Mild/Moderate.

Family

Hix and his wife, Shuree, have four children: Kaydence, 14; Titan, 11; Sage, 7, and Knight, 3. Shuree Hix works at the University of Oklahoma in accounting and also sells real estate.

They are looking for a home in Hennessey to fit their family of six.