Anton High School recently announced coaching changes in football and boys basketball as a result of the departure of Bulldogs Head Basketball Coach Ezekiel Clay.
Clay is heading to be the Junior High Athletic Coordinator in Monahans, seeking to be closer to family. Following his departure, it was announced that Bulldogs Head Football Coach Brian Duncan would be shifting to the Head Basketball Coach position and that Tell Rutledge will be the next Head Football Coach.
Originally, Rutledge is from Whitharral and his wife is from Anton, and after years of hoping to get closer to home, Anton provided the perfect opportunity.
He steps into the role with 11 years of experience as a coach in football, basketball and track, and specifically five years of experience as a Head Football Coach with two years at Bronte, a year at Priddy and most recently two years at Irion County. Across those coaching years, Rutledge has played a part in leading many teams to deep playoff runs and District Championships.
Rutledge’s six-man football experience even goes beyond coaching as he spent multiple years as a referee, intentionally choosing to ref six-man games because of his passion and enjoyment of its style and game environments.
Now, he takes over a program that has been trending up with Coach Duncan at the reins, something he’ll look to continue.
“My goal is just to be the best that we can be, and that’s going to look different from year-to-year,” Coach Rutledge said. “My main goal is trying to get better each week and be the very best we can with this squad that I’m inheriting. I have heard good things, that I’ve got some speedy and talented kids in the program. We can definitely compete for a District Championship and maybe make a little bit of a run in the playoffs.”
Meanwhile, Coach Duncan will remain on the staff as an assistant with his official title yet to be determined. Duncan is hopeful for the future of Bulldog football and seeks to help them succeed by any means, but now, his focus primarily shifts to basketball.
Coach Duncan stated that in another world where he was five inches taller, he would’ve probably played basketball over football in his career and ended up coaching in the sport originally. It didn’t end up that way, but now he gets his shot.
“I just want to be able to conquer basketball the way that I’ve conquered football over my years. It’s a blueprint that I want to try to build,” Coach Duncan said. “The community knows exactly what they’re going to be getting, and that’s an exciting program. We’re going to play fast and aggressively. Our goal is to get that first Gold Ball we’ve been chasing. The sky’s the limit for what they could do this year.”
Along with those motivations and goals for the change, Coach Duncan will also get the opportunity to coach his son, Griffin Duncan, who will be a freshman next season.
And while Coach Clay is departing from the basketball program, he’s leaving on a high note with the players and Coach Duncan, with full belief they’ll carry on what he’s built.
“I told the boys to continue chopping wood and carrying water. In the words of Kobe Bryant, ‘Job’s not finished,’” Coach Clay said. “I truly believe the Anton Bulldogs are on the brink of being a very formidable basketball team.”
(Left photo provided by Irion County ISD, right photo by Jentezen Smith)