Mav1

Only one comment about the previous staff- MAVCHAMP is right on with the Baylor camp. There weren't hardly any Marshall kids there at all. The AD nor head coach were there either. That's not a knock on them personally, they are both great guys but they weren't there for whatever reason. That's a great way to welcome Art Briles, Phil Bennett and the rest of their staff to Marshall don't you think?. They had decided to pull it this year until Harper talked with Bennett and I can bet you the numbers this year of both coaches and most importantly students will be considerably higher. Harper is a class act. He knows what he is doing and he is on a mission. This is different and something we haven't seen in a long while. The OC mentioned above is not the one that is coming in but he is a good one, along with the DC, Asst AD and other assistants. 4 of the asst coaches have head coaching experience as well as many years in the trenches. Again no knock on the last staff but this one will no doubt be alot more experienced. Im excited and ready for football! @Sportsstud-It is baseball season and that spot will see a new leader next year as well as girls basketball and volleyball. Lots of changes going on in Marshall. We are the brink of many good years to come in alot of different areas!

Alex Richters (formerly of Marshall) will be named the new head coach at Prairiland. Congrats to Coach Richters on his new adventure and we wish him the best.

Marshall just got a great coach and even better guy in Clint Harper. I can only imagine what he is feeling right about now. The opportunnity to return to your hometown and be named the head coach has to be a great feeling. I wish him nothing but the best.

I agree with Smoaky...Harper for sure deserves a good hard look. He has had success as a coordinator at several levels and has coached in several different places. His 2 years as head coach has resulted in 20-6 record going 3 deep in the playoffs both years. He is a hometown boy so you know he knows what Marshall is like. I can't think of alot more that you could ask for. I know the last several coaches that were hired had zero head coaching experience when they were hired so... he should be seen as pretty well qualilfied you would think.

A few things...No one on this staff should or will be hired. No offense to the 1 or 2 that might halfway be qualified but we need to move forward, not backwards. The last 2 years have been the worst in the history of the school. We can't take anymore chances. We need a PROVEN leader. With the qualifications that were outlined above there is no doubt the district is looking for a great candidate. Someone with at least 5 years experience as a Head Coach or Coordinator at 3A or higher. I know a lot of good coaches that don't have that. SO..whoever does qualify should be pretty salty. It will be interesting to see who actually applies and who is just a rumor. I have personally talked to several people that are successful head coaches at the 3A and 4A level that will be applying. None of which have been mentioned on here. If we can get a head coach with a good track record that would be huge. Marshall hasn't hired a current head coach since sometime before Dennis Parker came. Parker, Harper, Southern, Harris and Richter's weren't head coaches when they were hired. Some have had great success, some were Ok and the last 2 years were a flop. Even with the success that Southern ended up with he struggled early on but was smart enough to figure it out and make changes. I think someone who has already had their ups and downs and has a program lined out could have success right away with the talent we have. I am excited and ready for the search to be over and the new guy to be in place. Stay tuned..It should be interesting...

Nobody on the current staff will be hired for this job. From what I hear there are numerous current head coaches that will be applying from successful 2A and 3A schools. I've even heard of 2 applying that currently are at 4A schools. I think the pool will be very good! The salary will be $95,000 to $100,000 and will be a combo Head Coach/AD position. There are a ton of starters coming back next year and the lower grades are stacked. This could be a great gig for somebody.

I believe the writing is on the wall for McFarlin. The school board/supe wouldn't of gone this far with it had they not planned on going another direction. If they had no intention of removing him then they wouldn't of wanted to be the focus of all this discussion. Apparently he is a great coach and has had alot of success. I don't know anything about the guy but with the success he has had on the field I assume there is alot more to the story with what all is going on. That being said I think he will be available. While he is successful I don't think he is our guy. I prefer someone younger who will be around longer and can build our program up. I believe McFarlin is on his way out so to speak (no disrepect. I just mean he is alot closer to retirement than others who might apply). I think we will have a good group of young 2A, 3A and maybe some 4A head coaches apply as well as some very good coordinators at successful 4A and 5A programs. I have no doubt we will find the right guy. Our new supe along with the board has made it known that things are changing at MISD and I think we can expect them to hire the best possible coach available. I am just ready for it to get going!!!

The MISD school board voted 7 to 0 last night to make Brent Sipes the Athletic Coordinator and Alex Richters the Head Football Coach/Asst. Athletic Coordinator for MISD. I'm glad everything is finally settled. Good luck to both of these guys in their new roles.