Photos by Roger Mathis – www.mempics.com
Garland High School Head Coach Jeff Jordan had planned to be at GHS for a few more years and then maybe retire and move on to something new, but it didn’t work out the way he planned.
“God sometimes has different ideas about where you need to be and what you need to do,” he said.
The financial and intellectual parts of the coach’s decision to leave GHS were easy. He will retire and get Teachers’ Retirement System benefits while working full time at the University of Kansas. The job is a new challenge and a chance to work at the college level with Head Coach Dave Beatty, who he has known, trusted and respected for many years. Beatty, a 1989 GHS graduate, has also coached at GHS with Jordan.
Jordan will be director of player personnel and will be evaluating high school prospects and helping make decisions about whom scholarship offers should go to, who the team should recruit, roster management and more.
“What we are going to do is something unique and special,” he said. “There aren’t many colleges that are doing the type of work we’re getting ready to do. There’s not really a path to follow so we’l
l be making our own path.”
He added that it will be a lot like what he has been doing with the Dallas Cowboys’ organization for the last 28 years, evaluating film, helping them get ready for the draft and other related tasks.
“Hopefully the things I learned there will help,” Jordan said.
The emotional side of the decision was much more difficult.
“I’ve made so many good friends here. After 28 years, it’s the people I’ll miss the most – the kids, teachers, coaches, principals and administration,” he said.
He added that Garland ISD has always had a lot of good, trustworthy people and has always been like a big family.
Additionally, he has spent almost all his adult life here.
“I got married, had kids, raised them and sent them off to college while I’ve been here,” Jordan said. “My kids don’t know anything except for Garland High School and the Garland Owls. That’s all they’ve ever known and my parents haven’t missed a Garland HS game in 28 years so it’s going to be an adjustment for them as well.”
The players were shocked when Jordan told them about his retirement but were excited for him and broke into applause when they heard that he was going to work at the college level. The other coaches are also happy for him.
The highlights of his GHS career include, of course, winning the state championship in 1999 and being named head coach.
Jordan is the winningest coach in GHS history, has taken the team to the playoffs more times than any other coach and has the most playoff wins. He said that these records are special.
“What an honor, especially at a place like Garland High School that has had so many great coaches,” he said. “It has been great. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”
Jordan said that he will always be an Owl.
“That’s part of my identity and it will never change,” he said.