By ANDREW CRUM | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
In a surprising, but calculated move, Lopez head football coach and athletic coordinator Jason Starkey has decided to resign from his position with Brownsville Independent School District. His last day at his current post is today.
Starkey has been in his current position for five years and spent two seasons as an assistant coach within BISD, one with Pace and one at Lopez before earning a promotion.
He took over the Lobos football program in 2013 from Mike Ramirez and compiled 21-31 record. The Lobos experienced their greatest success under Starkey during the past two season, winning 15 games during that span and earning back-to-back postseason berths.
The sudden departure wasn’t a money move or due to a lack of love for the game; Starkey did it for his wife and two children.
“Time is the most valuable resource I think any of us have access to,” he said. “The window of opportunity to be their dad is closing rapidly.”
Starkey is set to leave coaching for the private sector to become an executive director at Gallery Homes, a liaison between the various project managers and owner and operator Bubba Vann. This point-of-contact position will provide Starkey a workweek that should be more conducive to family time.
“I love working with the kids (at Lopez), but the two kids that want me the most haven’t been getting me,” he said of son Reid, 10, and daughter Kendall, 7.
“This is about them and my wife, as it is anything. My wife Lark told me, ‘The Coach Starkey that everyone sees at school is not the one we get at home.’ That was a real sobering statement to hear … and there’s truth in that. The man I am (at Lopez) … by the time I’m done, I’m a shell of that person when I get home and that’s not my role or responsibility as a leader of (my family).”
Starkey had some interest in the BISD athletic director position that Rivera football coach and athletic coordinator Tom Chavez holds in an interim role, but never interviewed for the position. Starkey did reach out to Chavez and former football coach and current BISD board member, Joe Rodriguez, about his business opportunity in hopes of gaining some clarity.
“I relate to (Chavez) as he’s a man that’s not from here, but moved here and starting coaching,” Starkey said. “There was a time in his career when he stepped away and got involved in business. I talked to him and Joe Rodriguez about that.
“I bounce thoughts off of people to gain perspective before I jump into life-changing decisions.”
Starkey is a former NFL offensive lineman who found Christianity and changed his life. In 2010, Starkey and his wife, who was born in Falfurrias, visited Brownsville to see family and Starkey’s childhood friend, Matt Gross, who is an athletic trainer at Pace. A chance speaking engagement helped to reinvigorate his love for football and six months later Starkey and his wife moved to the Rio Grande Valley with faith that everything would work out.
“Putting God first … it’s given us some great opportunities,” Starkey said. “The only goal by us moving to Texas was to pursue coaching and do the best I could. I didn’t think I would be doing anything other than that, but that’s the way God works.”
Although the job change is sudden, it’s actually something Starkey was contemplating for a while. Vann, a friend for nearly eight years, had talked to Starkey at length about the opportunity, but it never seemed like the right time. Until recently, that is.
On Wednesday morning among the hugs and tears, Starkey informed the entire body of over 700 student-athletes at Lopez of his intentions.
“It was important to me as a man and a leader of this program that I stand in front of them and own the decision,” he said. “I wasn’t walking out on them, but making a decision that was in the best interest of my family.
“I still want to serve the youth of this community, it’s just going to be in a different capacity now.”
Although Starkey is leaving coaching for the time being, he will leave that door opened for a future time.
“Coaches have a great opportunity to influence … I believe one coach can impact more lives than an entire community can,” he said. “I’m open to that if and when an opportunity presents itself and it works for me and the family, but I’m going to have to stay current to stay relevant.”
Although he doesn’t get a choice or a voice in naming a successor, Starkey was vocal about who he’d like to see take over the football program — his offensive coordinator, Alberto Leal, who has spent the last eight years in that capacity.
“I think the right pieces are in place, but I think (Lopez Principal Dahlia) Aguilar will make the right choice,” Starkey said. “A good leader should serve the ones they lead, the best way I know is to help get them opportunities to run their own program.”
Now that his tenure is ending, Starkey reflected on his time at Lopez where his wife will continue to teach.
“My mission was to leave (Lopez) better than I found it and I have peace because I felt we’ve done that,” he said. “Not just me, but thanks to Ms. Aguilar and (Superintendent) Dr. (Esperanza) Zendejas and their belief in me, they saw something in this program and in me before I was able to see it. We changed the culture here, we’re very proud of this place.”
Starkey also wanted to thank the community.
“I want this community to know how much I appreciate the opportunity that BISD gave me to serve their children at the capacity of head coach and athletic coordinator,” Starkey said. “I thank them for their sacrifices so their kids could be a part of a sport and extra curricular activities. I want to encourage them to show up to their young people’s events and games. I believe a lot can be gained for the next generations leaders by ensuring they get the opportunity to compete and participate in sports.
“Dr. Zendejas and Ms. Aguilar, I will forever remember them as the leaders that were my champions … as a result of their commitment, I think we accomplished a lot.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter, he’s @andrewmcrum.