CARROLLTON – From November 2020 – when longtime head coach Paul Ressa announced his resignation from the position after 14 seasons – to March 2021, the Carrollton Newman Smith football program was head coach-less.
In fact, the program was considered ‘untouchable.’ Even to the point that no assistant coach cared to step up and accept the interim position.
That’s because when the final horn sounded on the Trojans’ season last fall, they had once again missed the playoffs – this time in a district that initially made them favorites to finish in the top four.
“Everybody tells me there’s 101 reasons this program can’t win,” first-year head coach Robert Boone said. “But our kids continue to knock it out of the park. It’s been difficult to redirect the culture, sure, but we see these kids’ confidence being resurrected one day at a time.”
“We understand the public’s perception of Newman Smith football. And we embrace the challenge of changing it.”
Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD hasn’t been known – or even respected – for its programs on the gridiron. In the past three years, its four schools have posted a collective record of 33-82, including two winless seasons. It’s part of the ‘public perception’ Boone seeks to redirect.
“I want to make Newman Smith – and CFBISD – a place of destination,” Boone said. “Every job won’t be 100 percent the way a guy wants it. While most would consider [Newman Smith] a ‘startup’ or ‘project,’ I see it as an opportunity to imbed in these kids what it takes to resurge this program.”
“There’s definitely a new vibe around here,” quarterback Alejandro Diaz noted. “We feel like this is a winning culture. Guys are starting to buy in.”
Boone recognizes that this process starts off the field – specifically in the classroom. When he arrived on campus, 50 football players were slated to attend summer school for the duration of the break, causing them to miss considerable time on the field.
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