Coaching Changes — Amarillo

Amarillo has hired their 18th head football coach to lead them into their 91st year of high school football. Mel Maxfield takes over for Brad Thiessen who resigned as head football coach to become the districts athletic director. Thiessen is taking over for the retired Tex Nolan.

Thiessen was the Head Caoch at Amarillo for the last four years. He took over the Sandies program after Larry Dippel retired with 222 wins in 31 years at the school.

Before taking over Amarillo High in 2006, Thiessen was the Head Coach at Levelland, Roby and Stratford. Thiessen began his head coaching career in 1989 in Roby. He then led the Stratford Elks to a 1A State Championship in 2000 with a perfect 16-0 record. He has served as an Athletic Director for 16 of his 20 years as a head football coach.

Maxfield comes to Amarillo from Burleson High School and prior to that he was the head coach at Forney. At Forney, Maxfields teams reached the Class 3A Division II state final in 2000 and was state runner-up to La Grange. Since taking over at Burleson in 2002, Maxfield has guided the Elks to five playoff berths in eight years and led them to their first Class 5A district title and first Class 5A playoff game. They have reached the playoffs in three of the last four years.

Coach Maxfield is the Winningest coach in Burleson history 45-41 and at Forney 1987-2001 129-43-1. His 174-84-1 overall record puts him in 112th place on the all-time coaching win list.

The Amarillo Golden Sandstorm will be in Class 2-5A with Amarillo Tascosa, Lubbock, Lubbock Coronado, Lubbock Monterey and San Angelo Central.

Amarillo Football Website:

Amarillo History:

By: Michael Wright
Lone Star Gridiron
www.lonestargridiron.com