Apaches pack football staff with three more hires

GONZALES — Change is inevitable in Texas high school football and the Gonzales Apaches’ coaching staff is no different. But after making a few more hires this summer, athletic director Kodi Crane feels he’s made some upgrades with a trio of coaches. 

Familiar face, championship experience bolsters staff

When you’re a part of a state-champion team, whether it’s as a player or coach you gain a lot of knowledge on how things should be done in the program. Jed Figg has worked under 14-time New Mexico state champion coach Cooper Henderson.

The legendary coach, Cooper Henderson, has won 14 state championships for Artesia High School in New Mexico. Last year he was named the National Coach of the Year for 2015.

Figg hopes to take all that he learned there and bring that experience to Gonzales.

“Just being around the program like that, I can tell with the short time that I’ve been here that Coach Crane is doing things the right way,” Figg noted. “Just like we did in that program; a lot of the same things are happening [here].”

Before coming to Gonzales, Figg spent two years coaching in Academy Texas, a 3A school east of Temple. Originally from New Mexico, he spent 12 years in Artesia, coaching for his high school coach.

“I went to high school at that same school, Artesia,” he said. “I got to coach with my old coach. It was great.”

Figg also has ties to Crane, noting that they’ve known each other for 10-12 years.

“[Crane’s] originally from New Mexico,” Figg acknowledged. “His dad was a football coach there so we have ties back to the state of New Mexico that way.”

“Coach Figg and I played high school football against each other,” Crane said. “We went to the same university.”

“He’s coached with and for really good people, so I think he’s going to fit this staff beautifully, I think he’s going to fit in with the community and just get in rocking and rolling.”

Knowing that this year’s district will be a tough one, Figg is excited for the challenge. Though he’s just started out with the program, Figg already sees the potential of athletes and how hard they work.

“What I’ve seen from the kids in this short time, they’re ready for a challenge,” Figg said. “I just want to see how we respond and how we compete and I’m looking forward to all of it.”

Figg brings over his wife Trace, who will be teaching third grade at Gonzales Elementary, dual language.

New coach brings 20 years of experience to Apaches

The Apaches have a good mix of young coaches and coaches that have been doing this a very long time.

Lyon Lofland fits in the latter.

Previously in Ozona, out in West Texas, Lofland will be coaching the running backs during football and helping out with basketball with Derek Williams later this year.

Lofland comes to Gonzales for a chance to work with new kids and so far he’s liked what he’s seen.

“I know what I left and I like what I see here as far as athleticism and the wanting to work hard,” he said, “it’s just a different level, such a different level. They want it and I think I’m going to enjoy it a whole lot more.”

Lofland always wanted to stay in the sports, playing football, basketball and baseball through high school, then playing baseball for one year in college.

“I always liked to play and id always like being a part of it,” he said. “I knew I wasn’t going to be good enough to go play and make millions of dollars doing it, so this is a way for me to still do it.”

Lofland has noticed similarities in a previous regime he’s worked for and this Apaches football team.

“The most fun year I ever had, we played in the state championship game, didn't win it but that summer we had the kids in the weight room just like I've seen it here,” he said. “Wanting to work, they're having fun while they were doing it, to me that's exciting, it's real exciting.”

“[Lofland] has a lot of experience, has been at a lot of places,” Crane said of the hire. “He’s been under really good people as well, so he will be an outstanding addition to what we’re doing.”

Youth movement continues with new strengths coach

Chicago, Ill. is a long way from Gonzales, but that’s the trek new coach Patrick Walker took to become the Apaches’ new strengths coach and defensive ends coach.

“We have family in Texas,” Walker explained, “so my fiancé and I are just getting a little closer, making our way over this way.”

Before heading here to Gonzales, Walker was at the University of Illinois as the strengths coach there. During his college years, he was the starting heavyweight on the wrestling team so when he graduated he got a position in the strength department.

Staying in sports and becoming a coach was something Walker always wanted to do. And with his experience participating in multiple sports, Walker fits right in with the Apaches.

“I was a three-sport athlete all the way up to my senior year of high school,” he said. “Football, wrestling and baseball. Collegiately I was recruited for football and wrestling so that's the direction I was going to go. I did that my whole life, my dad is a coach, my brother is a coach, so it's just kind of a big athletic family that I’m coming from and sports is a big part of our lives.”

“Walker has a lot of knowledge in strength and conditioning,” Crane said of the young coach. “That’s what he was doing at the University of Illinois, he’s going to be great for our athletes with the latest and greatest techniques and innovations in the weight room to give our kids the best chance they got.”

What’s impressed Walker the most, so far, is the closeness with not only the athletes, but the staff and the community as well.

“I think it's just going to be a really fun year,” he said. “I'm really excited to see where everybody goes, all the work everyone puts in, it's just going to be an exciting year all around. I think we have an amazing staff and amazing players and everyone is willing to put in the work. I think it's going to be an exciting year.”