Ropes Athletic Director Lane Jackson has stepped down as the Ropes Head football coach after 27 years.
Coach Jackson has now handed the reigns to Beau Riker as he will serve as the new head football coach.
Coming into the Eagle football program will be Keith Bloskas who will serve as offensive coordinator.
Coach Jackson had a record of 164-126-1 in his 27 years of coaching Eagle football. Before taking the role as head coach, the Eagle program amassed a record of 228-282-27.
During his tenure, Coach Jackson had 25 playoff wins, nine district championships, and five bi-district championship wins.
“I’ve been coaching for 34 years; I’ve been the head football coach and head basketball coach here at Ropes for 27 years and I’ve enjoyed every year of it,” says Coach Jackson. “At this time in my career, it’s time for me to step away from football.”
Coach Jackson says he has had a great career and enjoyed coaching both football and basketball.
“The school is getting big enough that we have some kids that are not playing football and are straight basketball kids,” explained Coach Jackson. “This gives me a opportunity to work with those kids in the fall that don’t play football. I had six of my kids that didn’t play football last year and somebody really needed to work with them.”
Jackson says he’s been very blessed in coaching Ropes for a very long time, but it was just good timing to part ways with the football program.
He knows the program is in safe hands behind coaches with such good experience and good ethics. Coaches Riker and Bloskas worked together in Post and coached a state championship run together.
“The good lord has blessed me and I’ve had a long time coaching football, but I felt like he told me now is the time to let somebody else do it,” said Coach Jackson. “I feel like the program is in good hands. It’s the right time for Ropes to get a new football coach because we have a lot of great kids this year and even more coming up in the future.”
Coach Jackson knows that Coach Riker and Coach Bloskas will develop the kids within the football program and help them be their best versions of themselves.
Coach Riker, originally from the Hockley County area said there were many reasons to take the job in Ropes as the new head coach, being back home is one of them.
“For me, it was an opportunity to come back to west Texas, advance my career and get back home where my wife and I both grew up,” said Coach Riker. “Ropes brings a lot of good attributes and checks a lot of boxes I was looking for in a coaching job.”
For Coach Riker, the main selling point for him was the kids. He explained that watching their work ethic and desire to be better is what sold him.
For Coach Bloskas, he had similar feelings about the change and is just as excited about coaching alongside a long time friend. He knows a good school and community when he sees one and for him it was almost a nobrainer when asked about the opportunity.
“It was another chance to come and work with Coach Riker and my family has known his for a long time,” said Coach Bloskas. “The people you work with is a big factor along with the chemistry you build with your staff. Having a guy like him that I trust, that I’ve known for a long time made me excited to be a part of it again.”
Coach Bloskas felt like Ropes was a great place and fit as the town gave off a similar feeling to Abernathy where he was previously.
“Ropes has great kids, fans, parents, athletes and administration,” said Coach Bloskas. “Everything about the community and school system was something we were excited about.”
Coach Jackson’s excitement for the two new coaches is high as he has nothing but praise and respect for the two.
Jackson has been coaching the program for many years. For the school and himself, it was a mutual decision that both moved on to get new blood in the program for years to come.
“I’m excited to see the passion and the drive that Coach Riker brings to Ropes Football,” said Coach Jackson. “Ricker was at Post for a long time and coached at two state championships. Following Post, he went to Brock and still coached in a state championship game.”
Coach Jackson acknowledged that Coach Ricker has been to the biggest stage in high school football multiple times.
Coach Riker has plans to begin his tenure at Ropes as soon as possible.
“We want to change the culture; we want to have a hard nose mentality of great football, great atmosphere and the kids know our expectations,” said Coach Riker. “We want a district championship and we’ll start there. We have to set our goals high and it’s not going to come easy.”
With New Home currently in the Eagle’s district, the coaching staff knows that New Home is defending state semi-finalists and that does not include other teams in this district that are good.
“You have Seagraves, Plains, Morton, and all those guys are doing really well,” said Coach Riker. “We look forward to the challenge that this change brings by setting the precedence and culture for years to come.”
Coach Bloskas doubled down on changing the culture and ethics. “We obviously want to start with district and hopefully be undefeated champs” says Bloskas. “I know there’s a lot of young kids coming up and Ropes is a growing place that we can set a foundation and set the standard for years to come.”