The Greenwood football team hopes to go on a redemption tour in the 2024 season.
As the Rangers began preseason practice this week, there was great optimism that the second year under the Bryan Hill era would be much better than the first.
The Rangers are coming off a 3-8 overall record this season and one appearance in the Class 4A Division II playoffs, but with many of their young talent returning, they are confident they will take a big step forward this season.
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“We had a pretty good summer,” said Hill, the ever-enthusiastic head coach. “The participation in our summer strength and conditioning program has been better than I could have imagined. We’re miles ahead of where we were this time last year. Defensively, everyone has been in the system. It’s not so much about teaching technical terms, but more about teaching execution, and I think that’s going to pay huge dividends for us.”
The biggest change for the Rangers this offseason is the addition of Zane Hernandez to the coaching staff as the new offensive coordinator. The former Abilene Cooper offensive coach takes over after Victor Gill left to take the OC job at Southlake Carroll. Carroll hosts Midland High in the season opener on August 30.
“This was our fourth stop together,” Hill said of his long-standing relationship with Gill. “We (were assistants at the University of Texas) together, went to South Florida together, coached together in Abilene Wylie and Greenwood. This is a big loss for our program, he did a great job. As sad as I was to see him go, I’m happy for him and couldn’t be happier to have Zane Hernandez take the reins.”
Hill said Hernandez is a true football fan and grew up playing football as his father was a former head coach and athletic director.
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“He already has a great feel for this community and a great feel for what our kids do well,” Hill said of Herrandez. “I think he’s going to be a great asset for us. Schematically, it’s going to be very similar to what Victor Gill did last year. I think he’s an excellent student of the game and I think he’s going to be a really good playmaker.”
Hernandez will have several talented playmakers to choose from, including junior quarterback Lincoln Madrid, junior running back Nathaniel Romero, junior wide receiver Dylan Payton and senior wide receiver Cade Rowoldt.
Madrid did a good job in his first year as a second-year starter, and Hill expects his experience to pay off this season.
“As intellectual as he was, he started his first game from scratch,” Hill said. “This year we’re already at level 10, not level 1. You can’t really train experience, you either have it or you don’t, and now Lincoln has it.”
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Madrid said he was excited to see what this offensive can achieve under Hernandez’s new leadership.
“I love it, I love what he brings to the offense,” he said. “Coach Hernandez has a good offensive mind, he knows what he’s talking about, for sure. He’s going to put us in the right position. If we execute, we’ll be fine.”
“Our district better be ready, we’re coming. We have a chip on our shoulder, that’s for sure.”
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Hill said that continuity should help the Rangers take the next step, as defensive coordinator Markelle Martin, a former Oklahoma State standout, and much of the offensive personnel also return.
“We’re still a young team,” Hill said. “Last year we started with 10 or 11 second-graders and we’ll have a lot of third-graders soon. The stage is set for an exciting football season because we bring back the experience, coupled with their youth and enthusiasm.”
