Breckenridge Texan

Pearce’s team of Buckaroo coaches brings variety of experience, knowledge

Pearce’s team of Buckaroo coaches brings variety of experience, knowledge
September 10
10:20 2020

By Brant Thurmond/Breckenridge Texan

Casey Pearce’s first year as the Athletic Director and head football coach for Breckenridge Independent School District didn’t get off to a typical start when he accepted the position the day before Spring Break started – and a week before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the district to switch to distance learning for the rest of the school year.

But, just because the student-athletes weren’t at school didn’t mean Pearce had nothing to do in his new job. One of his first tasks was assembling a coaching staff. He said he has put together a group of veteran coaches as well as some first year coaches, and he feels like that will suit the Buckaroos and Lady Buckaroos well.

“I believe we have a  knowledgeable staff,” Pearce said. “We have veteran coaches and plenty of youth, but I feel the mix of experience can teach our kids and get the most from them.”

Pearce and the coaching staff members have set the expectations high for the athletes and look to turn previously struggling programs around to be district championship contenders.

“This staff needs to be innovative and demanding with our athletes,” Pearce said. “This department must have pride in teaching kids hard work will pay off.  We need to find ways to beat opponents that, on paper, we are not supposed to beat.  A program changes when you achieve that goal.

“Every program’s goal will be to have a winning non-district record and a winning district record,” he said. “We need playoff appearances to come from challenging for the district title and not playing for fourth place spot.”

There will be several new faces on the campus at the high school and a few familiar faces that have returned for another academic year.

Among the familiar faces are coaches Kassiah Hudson, Donny Funderburg, Jeremy Gordon, Anthony Kelly, Mark Young and Kevin Bartley.

Hudson serves as the head volleyball coach, junior high basketball, and track coach; while Funderburg is  the Assistant Athletic Director and track coach , and Gordon is an assistant football coach, junior high basketball coach and an assistant baseball coach.

Kelly returns as the head softball coach; Young is head boys track coach; and Bartley continues his coaching duties as head baseball coach. Kelly is also an assistant with volleyball and junior high basketball, while Young is the head boys track coach and a strength and conditioning coach. Aside from head baseball duties, Bartley also is an assistant in football.

There are several new coaches in their first year coaching the Bucks and Lady Bucks in 2020-2021.

Among the new coaches are Brent Lucas (head boys basketball coach and junior high football coordinator), Brittney Goehring (assistant basketball, junior high girls coordinator, head tennis, and junior high cross country coach), Bryan Goehring (head girls basketball, head cross country and head golf), Blair Magee (Defensive Coordinator, strength and conditioning coach and head girls track), and Kaitlan Price (junior high basketball and junior track and cheer coach).

“Every head coach hired has seen success at their previous programs, or have developed a program in Breckenridge,” Pearce said.

Other new coaches include:

  • Jarrod Shepperd- Offensive Coordinator (football), strength and conditioning coach, assistant track.
  • Stetson Marin- Football Assistant, Junior high basketball, Assistant Baseball
  • Cameron Prewitt- Football Assistant, Junior High Basketball, Junior High Track
  • Will Doty- Football Assistant, Varsity Basketball Assistant, Junior High Track
  • Tanner Crain- Football Assistant, Junior High Basketball, Track/Softball TBD
  • Brandon Lucas- Junior High Football, Varsity Basketball Assistant, Track
  • Kyrah Bailey- Assistant Volleyball, Junior High Basketball, Junior High Track
  • Heather Reatherford- Junior High Volleyball, Junior High Basketball, Assistant Softball

Get to know the coaches

This summer, the Breckenridge Texan submitted a questionnaire that was sent out to each coach to help them introduce themselves to the community. Among the information that was requested was a background of their coaching history, families, education, favorite sport(s) and hobbies. Below are the responses from those who filled out a questionnaire:

Casey Pearce
Years Coached — 24
Previous School(s) Coached at — Longview (2006-2020); Pilot Point (2005-2006); Odessa Permian (2003-2005); Stamford (1997-2003)
Family — Monica Pearce (spouse), Gunner (12)
High School — Breckenridge
College — Howard Payne University (1993-1997); University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB) (2018-2019)
Favorite Sport — Football, Track, Olympic Lifting, Baseball
Hobbies/Interests — Bow and Rifle Hunting all game, inshore saltwater and freshwater fishing-fly fishing, salt and fresh water

Kyrah Bailey
Years Coached — First Year
High School — Hawley
College — Hardin-Simmons University
Favorite Sport — Volleyball
Hobbies/Interests — I love anything art related and right now my favorites are graphic design and oil paint. I’m also an avid Cross Fitter and I really enjoy fitness, wellness and nutrition.
Coaching Influence — Amy Eckhoff (Hawley High School Volleyball Coach)

 

Tanner Crain
Years Coached — 3 — Sweetwater WR Coach (2016-2019)
Family — Breanna Villanueva-Crain (spouse), Aiden (7), Karson (1), Eliana (6)
High School — Sweetwater
College — Angelo State University
Favorite Sport — Football, Basketball, Baseball
Hobbies/Interests — Spending time with family; hunting; golfing; watching Yellowstone, as well as college football, basketball, and baseball; watching pro sports like football, basketball, baseball, and golf
Coaching Influence — Kent Jackson

 

Will Doty
Years Coached — First year
High School — Jim Ned
College — Texas A&M University
Favorite Sport — Football, basketball and baseball
Hobbies/Interests — Family and friends, sports
Coaching Influence — my dad

 

Donny Funderburg
Years Coached — 25 — Marble Falls (1995-1999), Mart (1999-2003), Breckenridge (2003-2007), Lake Travis (2007-2008), Irion County (2008-2009), Joshua (2009-2013), Godley (2013-2015), Breckenridge (2015-2020)
High School — Breckenridge
College: The University of Texas at Austin (1993)
Favorite Sport — Football/Pole Vault
Hobbies/Interests — Hunting, Fishing, Kayaking
Coaching Influence — David Denney and Randall Alford

 

Brittney Goehring
Years Coached — 6 years — Midway (2014-2016), Poteet (2019-2020)
Family — Bryan Goehring (spouse), Harleigh (7), Emmye (3)
High School — Midway
College — Midwestern State University
Favorite Sport — Basketball and Cross Country
Hobbies/Interests — Camping, hunting, spending time with my girls
Coach Influence — My high school coach, Kristi Sullivan

 

Jeremy Gordon
Years Coached — 1 (Breckenridge 2019-present)
Family — Callie Gordon (spouse), Jeff Gordon (15 months)
High School — Clyde
College — University of Texas at Arlington
Favorite Sport — Football and Baseball
Hobbies/Interests — Playing golf and spending time with family
Coaching Influence — Craig Slaughter

 

Kassiah Hudson
Years Coached — 7 years — Breckenridge (2019-present), Lake Country Christian School (2014-2015), Ace Volleyball (2012-2014), Cross Timbers YMCA (2012-2013)
Family — Keith Hudson (spouse), Payton (7) Caden (18 months)
High School — Moran
College — University of Texas at Arlington, Tarrant County Community College
Favorite Sport — Volleyball and Baseball
Hobbies/Interests — Fishing, hunting, reading a good book, spending quality time with my family
Coaching Influence — Dr. Becky Garner (UTA)

 

Anthony Kelly
Years Coached — 3 (Breckenridge 2017-present)
Family — Mary Kelly (spouse), Austin (21), Triston (20), Kerstyn (16), Gaven (12), Gracyn (9)
High School — Sidney
College — Tarleton State University
Favorite Sport — Football and Softball
Hobbies/Interests — Hunting, fishing, singing and traveling
Coaching Influence — Mom and coach Drummond of Howard Payne University

 

Blair Magee
Years Coached — 6 years — Andrews Middle School (2015-2016), White Oak (2016-2020)
Family — Erica Magee (spouse)
High School — Idalou
College — South Plains College, Wayland Baptist University
Favorite Sport — Football
Hobbies/Interests — Hunting, camping, fishing
Coaching Influence — Don Long

 

Stetson Marin
Years Coached — 4 — Quannah (2016-2017); Anson (2017-2020)
Family — Charla Marin (spouse), Chey Wild (11), Cooper Wild (10), Palmer Marin (1)
High School — Breckenridge
College — Ranger College, Tarleton State University
Favorite Sport — Football and Baseball
Hobbies/Interests — Watching my kids play, sports, hunting, fishing, golf, hanging out with coaching families
Coaching Influence — Steve Freeman

 

Cameron Prewitt
Years Coached — First year
High School — S&S Consolidated Independent School District
College — Tarleton State University
Favorite Sport — Football and Track
Hobbies/Interests — Sports and grilling

 

 

Heather Reatherford
Years Coached — First Year
High School — Breckenridge
College — Angelo State University
Favorite Sport — Softball and Volleyball
Hobbies/Interests — Fishing, hunting, being outside playing sports, dancing
Coaching Influence — Jennie Finch

 

Jarrod Shepperd
Years Coached — 10 years — Pinetree (2010-2011); Callisburg (2011-2012); Rockport-Fulton (2012-2014); Poteet (2014-2016); Huntsville (2016-2019); Nacogdoches (2019-2020)
Family — Marlie Shepperd (spouse), Brock (6), Harper (2)
High School — Marshall High School
College — Tarleton State University
Favorite Sport — Football
Hobbies/Interests — Hunting and Fishing
Coaching Influence — J.R Winton

 

Mark Young
Years Coached — 27
Family — Allison Young (spouse), Baylee (19), Slayden (10), Kase (7)
High School — Haskell
College — Abilene Christian University
Favorite Sport — Football/Track
Hobbies/Interests — Family and Fishing
Coaching Influence — Wes Kittley

 

(All photos courtesy of Breckenridge Independent School District)

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