By Matt Faye | BeaumontEnterprise.com
Feb. 14, 2022
PORT NECHES — Jeff Joseph’s new job reminds him a lot of his playing days at Katy High School.
As Joseph readied to officially become Port Neches-Groves’ next head coach and athletic director, he couldn’t help but notice the similarities between Mid-County and his high school alma mater.
“It’s a place with a great tradition of winning and great community support,” Joseph said of PN-G. “That’s a huge draw for any coach and a great foundation to build up an athletic department.”
Joseph felt that support for the first time on Monday night as he was unanimously voted as PN-G’s 20th football coach in program history. He replaces Brandon Faircloth, who left the school last month after 13 seasons to take the same job at Sulphur Springs.
Unlike other recent coaching hires around Southeast Texas, Monday’s board meeting came and went without much drama. Joseph was approved by a 7-0 count, then was greeted by a standing ovation inside a packed room for the board meeting at PN-G High School.
“This is a job that peaked my interested right away and I can’t wait to start working with these student athletes,” Joseph said.
Related: Faircloth leaves PN-G for job at Sulphur Springs
The only interruption during Monday’s meeting came from a few untimely phone calls for Joseph’s parents, who joined their son in attendance. Joseph, who jokingly called the ringing phones a “disaster,” is the son of Katy High School coach Gary Joseph and the nephew of Aldine Davis head coach Scott Joseph.
The Joseph coaching tree reaches far across Texas with multiple state championships, but PN-G’s new leader wants to be judged on his own accomplishments.
“My dad told me a long time ago that I don’t have to compare myself to anyone,” Joseph said. “There are a lot of coach Joseph’s out there, but for me, it’s about just being myself.”
Although PN-G was known primarily for offense under its previous coach, Joseph brings a defensive background to the program. He spent last season as the special teams coordinator and defensive coordinator at Southlake Carroll. The Dragons went 14-1 with an appearance in the Class 6A state semifinals.
Prior to that, Joseph served as the defensive coordinator at Austin Westlake and Magnolia West, in addition to a stint with Texas A&M as a graduate assistant. Joseph said the team will play a 3-4 package on defense, with an emphasis on bringing pressure from multiple spots.
Offensively, Joseph stayed mum on naming a potential play-caller, but said PN-G will mainly play out of the shotgun.
“The best thing for a defensive coordinator is an offense that scores points,” Joseph said. “We’re going to keep the offense pretty similar to what’s been around here.”
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Joseph takes over a PN-G roster that returns 16 starters, none more important than rising senior quarterback Cole Crippen. The new coach will be welcomed next fall by a tough non-district schedule that includes games against Port Arthur Memorial, Beaumont United and West Orange-Stark.
“Hopefully at some point this week I’ll be able to get in front of the team and address them,” Joseph said. “I’m really looking forward to building relationships with those guys.”
