MIKE TOBIAS
The Port Arthur News
PORT NECHES —
-A packed house of Port Neches-Groves Indians supporters filled the PN-GISD board room at the West Groves Education Center Tuesday night to witness a changing of the guard at the helm of the varsity football team.
Following a thirty minute closed session by board members, Superintendent Lani Randall made the recommendation the employment of Brandon Faircloth, an offensive coordinator from Odessa Permian, for the position of varsity head football coach and athletic director for PN-G High School.
“Mr. Faircloth has a Master’s Degree in Sports Management, a Bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and mathematics,” Randall said, describing Faircloth’s credentials. “He’s been at Odessa Permian High School for the past three years ½ years, Highland Park High School for four years and two years at Westlake high school in Austin.”
Following Randall’s recommendation, the board of trustees, minus board member Harvey Brown, unanimously voted for the appointment of Faircloth to the district.
“We’re excited for you to be here, we’re excited for you to be the head coach and we’re going to get this thing started off right,” Board of Trustees President Rusty Brittain said. Just then, Board Secretary James Green gave Faircloth an Indians’ letter jacket and hat and the new Indians’ head coach bore the purple and white colors for the first time to a racous applause from the ground.
Following the presentation, Faircloth and his wife, Emily, introduced themselves to the members of the board and met several members of the community who were present for the event.
“I’m excited to be here,” Faircloth said. The first thing that attracted me to PN-G is the schools. I’m a family first guy and that’s the first thing I think about – where my children are going to go to school, and PN-G offers the greatest education you can get in Texas.”
Faircloth says the second thing that attracted him to the job is the community; great people with great support. The third thing, he said, was the area’s football tradition.
This is such a great place,” Faircloth said. “This program has had a lot of success, and I know it’s going to have a lot more success in the future.”
Knowing that the team has not yet seen a victory at the new Reservation stadium, Faircloth says he is anxious to get it under his belt.
“We’ll be very excited to get that first win,” he said. “I know the kids are going to do everything in our power to get it. You know, it’s still not about me – it’s about those kids and us working hard everyday not to win just one, but to win a lot.”
His wife, Emily, says she’s excited for her husband to be a part of such a storied football program, and that’s she’s happy about not living in the West Texas desert anymore.
“I think it’s fabulous here,” she said, having never been in Southeast Texas before Tuesday. “It is beautiful here, with all the trees and the greenery.”
And about the color purple?
“I love it!” she exclaimed.
As the two made their way around the room, shaking hands and receiving multitudes of ‘welcome’s and ‘great to have you’s, Faircloth stated his eagerness to get to work. Instead of waiting for the Board’s original March 2 start date, Faircloth will be getting started next week.
“We’re excited to be here,” Faircloth said. “We have great times ahead of us, and we’re looking forward to a lot of successful seasons.”
