Brownwood Lions offensive coordinator Andy Howard on Friday was named the new head football coach and athletic director at Goldthwaite High School, replacing Keith Virdell.
“I live over here and my kiddos go to school here and my wife still teaches over here, and I feel like God opened a door to allow me to look into an option,” Howard said. “It’s an opportunity for me again to be a head coach and athletic director and run a program, and also do it in a town we have a lot of family in, and be around my kids a little bit more. There was an opportunity, a window opened, we looked into it, and it ended up being the right thing to do for me and my family.”
Brownwood head football coach and athletic director Sammy Burnett wished Howard the best of luck.
“Number one he’s an outstanding human being, a great man, one of the finest coaches I’ve ever been around,” Burnett said. “Goldthwaite made a big mistake when they let him go and they were smart to get him back when they could. He’s going to do great things in Goldthwaite, there’s no doubt about it. We were fortunate to have him while we did, and we’re losing a good one.”
Goldthwaite is coming off a 5-6 campaign and a playoff berth in 2021, which followed campaigns of 3-8 with a postseason appearance in 2020, 2-8 in 2019, and 1-9 in 2018. The tradition-rich Eagles – with four state championships to their credit – last finished with a winning record during the 2016 season.
Goldthwaite will be competing for the next two seasons in District 5-2A Division I along with Bangs, Coleman, De Leon, Hamilton, San Saba and Tolar.
Howard spent two stints as an assistant at Brownwood, including the last three years as offensive coordinator. He also has local coaching stops at Early, served as an assistant previously at Goldthwaite, and was the former head coach at Brady from 2012-14.
In his three seasons at Brady, Howard’s team posted records of 2-8 in 2012, 4-7 in 2013, and 8-3 in 2014.
Goldthwaite begins its first season under Howard the same night at home against Crawford.
(courtesy Brownwoodnews.com)