By Fred Gray, Clarendon Enterprise
Hedley ISD hired a Texas coaching legend as their new athletic director and head football coach.
Jack Shely amassed a lifetime record of 206 wins – 93 losses – 3 ties as a head coach or an assistant coach in his remarkable career. As a head coach his record is an amazing 159-78-3. He was inducted into the Texas Six-Man Coaches Hall of Fame in 2007.
In the past he has earned the following awards and honors: Named South Plains Coach of the Year in 1985 and 1993; Amarillo Glove News Coach of the Year in 1985; Henderson County Coach of the Year in 1991; Recipient of the Sam Adams Award in 1995; Coached in the Six-Man All Star Game in 1986, 1995, and 2003; and Served as director for the Six-Man Coaches Association and as Executive Secretary for 16 years.
Coach Shely started the six-man programs in Higgins (Panhandle) and Trinity (East Texas), Texas. He took Silverton to the playoffs for the first time in 37 years, and coached Amherst to back to back Texas Six-Man State Championships in 1994 and 1995, falling just short of the championship in 1993. While at Amherst his record was 9-2 in 1993, 13-1-1 in 1994, and was a perfect 15-0 in 1995. He also coached in Carizzo Springs, Jonesborough, and Terrill County.
Coach Shely will not simply focus on offense and scoring. He believes that defense wins championships and will spend the necessary time to develop a defensive minded football team. This year, the Owls are a little thin, due to the large graduating class last year. This year and next year will be rebuilding years, and it will take awhile for the players to learn Coach Shely’s philosophy and system.
Coach Shely is accompanied by his wife, Annette, who will teach English in the Hedley schools. Mrs. Shely will also serve as the assistant girls’ basketball coach to Coach Shely.
The Shely’s decided that now is a good time to come out of retirement and Hedley offered an interesting and challenging opportunity to, once again, work with young people. They have two daughters, one of whom, Lacey, teaches school in the South Plains region, and the other, Calinda, is currently finishing up her Ph.D. work at the University of New Mexico. They have been blessed with two lovely granddaughters.
Donley County and Hedley have been blessed with a remarkable couple to help work with our youth. Let’s give Coach and Ms. Shely a warm welcome do what we can to support them in this vital work of developing our young people and preparing them to go into the world and be fruitful.
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