Ivary Cooks, a barber at Classic Hair Design in Dallas, knows exactly who his first customer will be every Friday morning during football season.

By now it’s become ritualistic for Cooks’ younger brother, Lancaster coach Chris Gilbert, to make the short drive to the salon on game days. While the tradition brings the two closer together, it also gives Gilbert a chance to discuss strategy with the Tigers’ unofficial assistant coach.

Cooks isn’t employed by Lancaster ISD, but he is on the sideline for all the team’s games, pacing up and down the field while uttering words of encouragement or advice to Gilbert from time to time. Some coaches would scoff at the idea of someone outside the staff vocalizing their opinion – but Cooks’ input is welcomed, and useful, for Gilbert.

And it all starts on Friday morning.

“We talk about game planning – I give him strategies, even down to the coin flip,” Cooks said. “You shouldn’t take heads this week, don’t take the ball first, put it on the defense this week, you know. I’m right there every Friday night at the end of my day and most of those things come out in my favor after we talk about it in the morning.”

Cooks plays a key role in helping Gilbert settle into his comfort zone every Friday during the season and he was also important in helping the Lancaster coach bounce back from one of the lowest points of his career with the Tigers in 2012.