Andy Howard is leaving Brownwood to take the head coaching job at Goldthwaite

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.

“They had quite a few seniors over here last year and they were very experienced. They have some younger guys that are going to have to gain that experience this year,” Howard said. “They’re hungry and they did experience a little more success this past season so they’re building off that.

“When you take over a new program you definitely want to sell them on what you believe in and get them to buy in from that. The way you do that is show up every day ready to work, you hold the kids accountable and the main thing is you lead by example, and that’s what we’re going to do.

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.

Regarding his second go-round as a head coach, Howard said, “Being 18 years in coaching, I’m still looking to grow and I can tell you I couldn’t have been around a better staff than what’s in Brownwood right now. The guidance that Coach Burnett has with the staff and with the kiddos, they’re doing it the right way and they’re heading for some really good days because of it.

“Coach Burnett had faith in me and allowed me to do some of things we wanted to offensively and also within the program and that always helps you grow. And not just , but the whole staff. He allows us to put our footprint on the program to allow it to be successful and that’s huge. It’s prepared me to go do my thing and put in my own program.”

Howard, who is also the boys track coach at Brownwood High School, will be splitting time between the two schools for the foreseeable future as he also begins instilling his program at Goldthwaite.

Going forward for the Lions, who are moving to Region I’s District 2-4A Division I for the new two seasons, Burnett said, “I honestly don’t feel like you can replace a coach like Andy but we’re going to do the best we can. I have a couple of leads right now, I’ve reached out to a bunch of people I know. The Lord works in His way and His time, and one door closes another one opens. I’ve already got some real viable candidates and things are really falling into place with their teaching fields and coaching and their second sports, so I have some pretty good irons in the fire. Hopefully in a couple of weeks I can solidify something.”

Less than two months remain in the 2021-22 school year, and Brownwood begins 7-on-7 tournament action May 21 at Ponder, with tournaments to follow May 28 at Burnet, June 4 in Brownwood and June 13 at Jim Ned.

The Lions are slated to begin the 2022 football campaign Aug. 26 at home against Abilene Wylie.

Goldthwaite begins its first season under Howard the same night at home against Crawford.