BigDaddy
12-01-2005, 09:13 AM
Amarillo HS Coach Larry Dipple retires.
I am proud to say that I played for Coach Dipple. Texas High School football is a better institution because of him.
11/30/2005 Amarillo Globe News
Larry Dippel, the heartbeat of Amarillo High football for the past three decades, ended the longest head-coaching run in Amarillo Independent School District history Tuesday.
Dippel, 64, informed his players Tuesday morning that he was stepping down from his head-coaching duties 17 days after ending his 31st season with the Sandies.
"His impact at this school is immeasurable," AHS junior quarterback Kyler Hill said. "We couldn't believe it. He has kept this program alive for so long. Of course, I will miss him. We all will miss him."
AHS completed the 2005 season with a 10-2 record, leaving Dippel with 253 career wins, 14 district championships and 14 district coach-of-the-year selections.
Dippel said he considered retiring after last season. However, he said he knew this was the final chapter of his 35-year head coaching career that began in 1971 at Hereford.
"I'm emotionally and physically tired," said Dippel, whose contract will end March 1, 2006. "I really strongly considered this thing a year ago. Truthfully, with Blaine (Vaughan) and Kyler (Hill) and all those guys coming back (for the 2005 season), I wanted to see them through. The weekends just got longer than they used to be.
"But I had a tremendous run. And everything revolves around the fact the Amarillo High community, the players and our administration allowed me to stay at Amarillo High."
Dippel took over an Amarillo High program in 1975 that was on the skids. AHS had not been in the playoffs since 1959. But Dippel turned around the program and led AHS to 23 playoff appearances.
He finished his career with a record of 253-134-6, with 222 of the wins coming with the Sandies.
His many honors include being named 2003 national coach of the year, serving as president of the Texas High School Coaches Association in 1999 and being named state coach of the year (The Tom Landry Award) in 1993. Dippel also earned the Sportsmanship Award from Amarillo Football Officials four times.
Dippel's tenure as a head coach at Amarillo High is the longest of any head coach in any sport in AISD history. He won 16 district titles at Hereford and AHS combined, and he led the Sandies to the Class 5A state semifinals in 1992. Dippel leaves having coached fathers and sons, uncles and nephews.
He also drew respect for the way he quietly endured 19 years of dealing with multiple sclerosis.
Palo Duro football coach Steve Parr, who has coached against Dippel on many occasions, said the coaching world is losing "a true gentleman."
"It's a sad day for high school coaches," Parr said. "It's a sad day for the AISD because we are losing what I consider a legend from the coaching profession."
Joe Bain, who coached with Dippel for 30 years at Amarillo High, said Dippel's career wasn't about wins and losses.
"If I had to say one thing that sums up Larry,'' Bain said, "it's what I have heard him say a thousand times. And that's kids don't care how much you know, until you know how much they care about you. That's so true and that was Larry."
AISD Superintendent Rod Schroder was an assistant coach under Dippel at AHS in the late 1970s. Schroder had three sons play under Dippel.
"Larry was always about the kids, and he will be missed," Schroder said. "Larry had a unique ability to make people feel important, whether it was a middle school coach, a fellow staff member or an athlete. He really made his middle school coaches feel like a part of the program. That was something that really set him apart.
"I appreciate him for what he has done for AISD and Amarillo High. Clearly, he is known across the state as a classy coach."
AISD athletics director Tex Nolan said the search for a coach to succeed Dippel will begin immediately, and ideally, a coach will be in place before March.
"Larry is by far one of the most respected persons in this community and Texas," Nolan said. "The thing about Larry is he has time for everybody. It's doesn't matter if it was me, a Class A coach, or a college coach. I was hoping this day wouldn't come."
Dippel, known as a man with the one hobby of coaching, said he will be out on Friday nights next fall watching high school football.
"One of the questions I have been asked a lot is what is my best accomplishment," Dippel said. "I'm not for sure if it's not the fact of being in the same school 31 years. When I look back, that's something I'm really proud of. The hardest thing about this whole deal was telling the kids goodbye. But I'm pleased we established a program and were able to sustain it."
I am proud to say that I played for Coach Dipple. Texas High School football is a better institution because of him.
11/30/2005 Amarillo Globe News
Larry Dippel, the heartbeat of Amarillo High football for the past three decades, ended the longest head-coaching run in Amarillo Independent School District history Tuesday.
Dippel, 64, informed his players Tuesday morning that he was stepping down from his head-coaching duties 17 days after ending his 31st season with the Sandies.
"His impact at this school is immeasurable," AHS junior quarterback Kyler Hill said. "We couldn't believe it. He has kept this program alive for so long. Of course, I will miss him. We all will miss him."
AHS completed the 2005 season with a 10-2 record, leaving Dippel with 253 career wins, 14 district championships and 14 district coach-of-the-year selections.
Dippel said he considered retiring after last season. However, he said he knew this was the final chapter of his 35-year head coaching career that began in 1971 at Hereford.
"I'm emotionally and physically tired," said Dippel, whose contract will end March 1, 2006. "I really strongly considered this thing a year ago. Truthfully, with Blaine (Vaughan) and Kyler (Hill) and all those guys coming back (for the 2005 season), I wanted to see them through. The weekends just got longer than they used to be.
"But I had a tremendous run. And everything revolves around the fact the Amarillo High community, the players and our administration allowed me to stay at Amarillo High."
Dippel took over an Amarillo High program in 1975 that was on the skids. AHS had not been in the playoffs since 1959. But Dippel turned around the program and led AHS to 23 playoff appearances.
He finished his career with a record of 253-134-6, with 222 of the wins coming with the Sandies.
His many honors include being named 2003 national coach of the year, serving as president of the Texas High School Coaches Association in 1999 and being named state coach of the year (The Tom Landry Award) in 1993. Dippel also earned the Sportsmanship Award from Amarillo Football Officials four times.
Dippel's tenure as a head coach at Amarillo High is the longest of any head coach in any sport in AISD history. He won 16 district titles at Hereford and AHS combined, and he led the Sandies to the Class 5A state semifinals in 1992. Dippel leaves having coached fathers and sons, uncles and nephews.
He also drew respect for the way he quietly endured 19 years of dealing with multiple sclerosis.
Palo Duro football coach Steve Parr, who has coached against Dippel on many occasions, said the coaching world is losing "a true gentleman."
"It's a sad day for high school coaches," Parr said. "It's a sad day for the AISD because we are losing what I consider a legend from the coaching profession."
Joe Bain, who coached with Dippel for 30 years at Amarillo High, said Dippel's career wasn't about wins and losses.
"If I had to say one thing that sums up Larry,'' Bain said, "it's what I have heard him say a thousand times. And that's kids don't care how much you know, until you know how much they care about you. That's so true and that was Larry."
AISD Superintendent Rod Schroder was an assistant coach under Dippel at AHS in the late 1970s. Schroder had three sons play under Dippel.
"Larry was always about the kids, and he will be missed," Schroder said. "Larry had a unique ability to make people feel important, whether it was a middle school coach, a fellow staff member or an athlete. He really made his middle school coaches feel like a part of the program. That was something that really set him apart.
"I appreciate him for what he has done for AISD and Amarillo High. Clearly, he is known across the state as a classy coach."
AISD athletics director Tex Nolan said the search for a coach to succeed Dippel will begin immediately, and ideally, a coach will be in place before March.
"Larry is by far one of the most respected persons in this community and Texas," Nolan said. "The thing about Larry is he has time for everybody. It's doesn't matter if it was me, a Class A coach, or a college coach. I was hoping this day wouldn't come."
Dippel, known as a man with the one hobby of coaching, said he will be out on Friday nights next fall watching high school football.
"One of the questions I have been asked a lot is what is my best accomplishment," Dippel said. "I'm not for sure if it's not the fact of being in the same school 31 years. When I look back, that's something I'm really proud of. The hardest thing about this whole deal was telling the kids goodbye. But I'm pleased we established a program and were able to sustain it."