Van Athletic Director Pennington Resigns

After eight years as head football coach and athletic director at Van High School, Brady Pennington announced Wednesday, January 20 that he is resigning.

In an interview with the Van Banner, Pennington said that he has accepted the position of assistant head coach in charge of quarterbacks at New Caney Porter High School, a new 4-A high school in the New Caney Independent School District, a 25 minute drive from Houston.

Also, Pennington will have administrative and spring sport responsibilities at New Caney Porter that have not yet been specified.

Pennington’s resignation at VHS is effective March 1.

Joshua Potter, defensive coordinator for the Van Vandal varsity football team and a teacher at VHS, has been named the interim head football coach and AD at Van.

In eight years as Vandal head football coach, Pennington compiled a record of 62-26 including five district championships and five playoff appearances, including a berth in the Class 3-A state quarterfinals in 2008.

Prior to Pennington’s arrival in Van, the Vandals were 1-19 during a two-year span in football.

In his new job, Pennington will be working under Reno Moore, the former offensive coordinator at Whitehouse High School, who was recently named as the head football coach and athletic director at New Caney Porter High School.

"When we were putting together our spread offense at Van, our coaches had an opportunity to visit with Coach Moore and the offensive staff at Whitehouse on several occasions," recalled Pennington. "I formed a good working relationship with Coach Moore in the past few years."

Kenn Franklin, the New Caney ISD Superintendent, is a former high school principal at Van.

"I was given an opportunity to be part of a brand new 4-A program and I just felt like that this was an opportunity that I could not pass up," emphasized Pennington. "The head coach and the superintendent at New Caney are high character individuals."

Pennington said that he and his wife, Kerry, will miss the people in the Van community.

"Van has been absolutely incredible for me and my family," pointed out Pennington. "We raised all three of our sons in Vandal red."

Pennington summarized his eight years as head football coach and AD at Van.

"I am proud of what we have accomplished here at Van," said Pennington. "All of our programs have blossomed during the past eight years. We are very well respected not only in East Texas but around the state as well."

Before returning to Van in 2002, Pennington served as a teacher and coach at VHS for 16 years before moving to a coaching and teaching position at Brenham ISD for four years.

Potter was informed Wednesday that he would serve as interim football coach and AD in Van.

"I am honored to have this opportunity," said Potter. "I want to continue to do what we are already doing and not lose ground. The administration here has been excellent to work with and our coaches will continue to do a great job."

Potter said that he has talked to several coaches and athletes and is looking forward to visiting with more in the coming days.

"Everything will be okay as long as we continue to do things the Vandal way," pointed out Potter.

Serving as a head football coach and AD is nothing new for Potter.

Before coming to Van three years ago, Potter served as head football coach at Angleton ISD for three years and as head football coach and AD at Jacksboro for one year.

The interim VHS head football coach and AD is looking forward to the upcoming challenges in the next few weeks.

"Realignment is fast approaching," said Potter. "The challenges overall remain the same. We want to develop kids that all of us can be proud of. As coaches, we want to make a positive impact on these kids."

Potter also expressed his appreciation to Pennington.

"Coach Pennington has raised the bar high at Van and we will keep pressing on."

Van ISD Superintendent Joddie Witte said last week that the process for choosing a successor for Pennington has not yet been determined.

"Coach Pennington has been a tremendous asset not only for this school district but in this community as well," pointed out Witte. "Our athletic programs have rich tradition. They are character based with a great deal of class and integrity."

Witte said that Pennington informed him of his decision to leave Van Monday, January 18.

"Brady supported all of our academic programs as well as our athletic programs," said Witte. "He believed in teachers first, coaches second. Brady developed a great working relationship with our churches. He is a strong supporter of community, church and school."

VHS Principal Keith Murphy also showed his appreciation for Pennington’s work at Van.

"He has done us all proud," emphasized Murphy. "Brady has created a great atmosphere for all of our students. The success that he has had here as a head football coach and athletic director has been no accident. It takes lots of work to build an athletic program and Brady has done that and so much more."

Witte and Murphy both expressed their full confidence in Potter.

"Josh is an outstanding individual and we look forward to working with him during this interim period," said Witte.

Van School Board President Shelby Davidson also had high praise for Pennington and Potter.

"Coach Pennington did a wonderful job as our head football coach and athletic director," pointed out Davidson. "He is more than just a football coach. We appreciate all of the contributions that Coach Pennington and his family have made for our school district. We are very fortunate to have someone like Coach Potter to step in and I know that he will do a great job."

Potter said he is not concerned about the process of selecting a successor for Pennington.

"The school board and the administration here will do the right thing for this school district," summarized Potter. "I am confident that this will all work out in a great way."