Penland leaving HISD for McNeil

Jan. 26, Hutto head football coach and athletic director Lee Penland, announced to his team and school that he’d be taking the same position at Round Rock McNeil. Penland, who was coach at Hutto for 12 years, took the Hippos from a small Class 2A school to a competitive Class 4A program.

“My time at Hutto was great and I’m leaving a special place and have great memories I will cherish for the rest of my life,” Penland said. “In my time at Hutto, we played against schools from Class 1A to Class 5A.”

Penland said his greatest football memory to date was taking the Hippos to the state championship game in 2005, but family reasons caused him to interview and then accept the McNeil head coaching position.

“It was just an opportunity I didn’t feel I could pass up for myself and my family,” Penland said of the McNeil job. “I live in Round Rock and my daughter will one day attend McNeil High School, so it was a dream of mine to be at the same school she’ll one day be at. It is close to my house, it has 2,800 kids and it was more money. Add to that the great academics and athletic program already in place, and I just couldn’t turn it down.”

Penland accepted the job earlier than Tuesday, but wanted a chance to address his team before news got out to the public. He knew it would be hard, but the longtime coach was surprised how hard it was to address the team.

“Telling the team that has bought in to our program was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do,” Penland said. “Some of the kids took it real hard and so did I, but if it wasn’t hard then my time there wouldn’t have meant anything.”

Penland is leaving a program on the rise behind in his move to the Class 5A McNeil Mavericks. Through two years in Class 4A, Hutto has been on the brink of a playoff berth, and with a strong nucleus of players set to return in 2010, Penland has no doubts his old team will thrive in the future.

“Hutto has a great group coming back,” Penland said. “I think the talent is in place to contend for a district championship and advance far in the playoffs. This decision definitely was not made because of the football program or the players. This was a family decision.”

Penland said it was too early to comment on his staff at McNeil and if any of his coaching staff from Hutto would follow him. Those decisions will be made by the Round Rock Independent School District, Penland and the individual coaches in the upcoming days and weeks. Penland will remain in Hutto through the next week.

The Hippos are now in search of a new head football coach and athletic director. Penland said he was in no position to comment on the job search, but feels the tradition, facilities and community support will allow Hutto to make a great hire that can take the Hippos to continued success.

“I want to thank the community, school and players for allowing me to be their coach for 12 years,” Penland said. “I told the players today, I will always be their coach. For now and the future, any time they need anything, no matter where I am, I will be there for them and will help in any way possible.”

But the Hippos must move on, and to do so the board plans the post the opening of the position as soon as possible. Borrer stated the deadline to receive applications will be Feb. 12.

“At that point, a selection committee composed of community members and district staff will review the applications and narrow it down to those individuals we wish to interview,” Borrer said. “We will spend time during the week of Feb. 15 to 19 reviewing applications and conducting interviews.”

At that point Borrer said two or three of those applicants will be recommended to be interviewed by the school board. Those interviews will be conducted during the week of Feb. 22 to 26, and hopefully, according to Borrer, a decision will be made at that time.

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