If you have any high school football coaching experience and you're currently unemployed, you just might be in luck.

Friendswood coach Steve Van Meter officially announced his retirement after a 20-year stint as the athletic director and head football coach of the Mustangs. His departure opens up the third vacancy for Galveston County head football coaching jobs, following the resignation of Texas City's Tim Finn and the retirement of Dickinson's Warren Trahan.

The three coaches had a combined 51 years of head coaching experience, and it'll be tough to replace them. But school districts move swiftly on making these hires, and my prediction is that all three schools will have new leaders in place by Easter.

The biggest question right now is, what do they need?

Texas City could use an energetic young coach, perhaps similar in qualities to La Marque's Mike Jackson or someone who could revamp the Stingaree program. It's no secret that Texas City will be stockpiled with explosive talent for at least the next two years. With the right guy, the Stings could legitimately compete for a state title in 2013.

Dickinson will be hiring a head football coach, as Tom Mooney already holds the athletic director position. That coach will take over a program with great athletes, strong-willed players and arguably the best facilities in the Houston area. Dickinson's weight-lifting room, field house and stadium are all first-class, which makes the school more attractive for top-notch coaches.

With Friendswood's consistent success, I would think the Mustang administration will be looking for a carry-the-torch kind of guy. Van Meter did such a tremendous job building up Friendswood athletics as a whole. Keeping those ways in place will be important for keeping the parents and community happy. At the same time, you've gotta win on Friday night. The Mustangs might need a coach to refigure a defense that was one of the worst in school history in 2011.

The hiring of head football coaches in Texas is such an important process. A great coach can rejuvenate a struggling program, while a bad coach can run a program into the ground pretty quickly.

Does anyone have any idea who these programs should seek?

I’m back from a weeklong vacation feeling rejuvenated and ready for spring sports. December was a relatively quiet month for Galveston County sports as the football season ended earlier than many expected.

But the high school basketball season is really starting to heat up now that the teams are digging into district play.

For the boys, both Clear Springs and Clear Creek are serious threats to take the District 24-5A title. Manvel and Dawson seem to have District 24-4A on lock, but pretty much any of the other Galveston County teams have chances of grabbing a playoff spot. Texas City, Friendswood and Clear Falls might be the frontrunners, but La Marque, Ball and Santa Fe could change things in the new year.

On the girls side, we’re already getting an idea of how things might play out. Clear Springs is just as dominant as we expected them to be, even despite having to battle the injury bug a bit. Clear Creek and Dickinson are both legitimate playoff contenders on their heels. In District 24-4A, La Marque has come on surprisingly strong so far, but Friendswood, Ball and several other teams have made strides.

We’re also upon the start of the high school soccer season, believe it or not. I don’t doubt Friendswood’s Laura and Stephen Peter will return talented groups to the pitch in the North County, but several other teams have key pieces returning from last season. I’m currently gathering things for an upcoming high school soccer preview.

Professionally, the Rockets are underway and not looking quite as bad as they were supposed to be, but we’ll just have to see as things develop. The Texans stunk up their final three weeks of play, and they limp into Saturday’s playoff opener against the Bengals.

Everyone talks about resolutions for the new year — have you made any sports-related resolutions? Should be an interesting year, especially if we defy the Mayans and make it all the way through.

The Texas City boys basketball team has made amazing strides so far this season.

I’m not sure who should get all the credit, but I think it should certainly start with first-year coach Chris Mason. He built a dynasty at La Porte, and he saw an opportunity to do the same at Texas City when not many people wanted the task.

After all, they were 4-27 last season and have had just one winning season in the last seven years. They’ve had just two 10-win seasons in that stretch, and Mason might achieve that by New Year’s Eve.

Mason can’t take all the credit as there are a few talented players on the team, but it’s mostly the same team that won two District 24-4A games last season except they lost their two leading scorers to graduation. By the way, they’re already 2-0 in district play, matching last season’s success just a week in.

Other candidates for most improved team:

Dickinson

The Gators have won about the same amount of games to this point as last year, but they’re on the tipping point where Mike Tucker’s program is poised to take off. I think they’re a lock to win more than the two district games they won last year.

Ball High

The girls, that is. The Lady Tors have a solid offense, and if the defense can turn things around, they’re a legitimate playoff bubble team.

Santa Fe

Under first-year coach Brandon Baker, the Indians finally have the ball rolling. They’ve got a force in senior center Kyle Kadlecek, and the guards like Marc Cram and Jeff Riley are starting to knock down shots.

Houston sports has been one misery after another for the past 15 years.

When the University of Houston Cougars lost in the Conference USA title game and missed the chance of a BCS bowl game, I figured the Texans would soon have a similar fate. But the tide is turning in the town that was once known as Clutch City.

The Texans clinched a playoff berth through an AFC South championship on Sunday, and they did it in miraculous fashion.

Are you a believer in this team?

In other news, another area team will go head-to-head with an old foe for the Division II-4A state championship. Manvel, which squeaked past La Marque by three points in the Region III final, will take on Aledo, which won by a lot more than three points against the Cougars in last year's state final.

Who are you picking, Cougar fans? Can Manvel's elite defense stop Johnathan Gray?

I'd also like to acknowledge our scrappy basketball teams. Last year's basketball season was characterized by overwhelming talent that reached new heights. While that talent - as a whole - has taken a dip this year, the teams have had continued success through hard work and determination.

I'm so glad we're finally in the midst of district play so we can see our local teams go at it.

Also, please be sure to sign up for our College Bowl Picks contest. All you Pigskin Pick artists have had your practice with college football all season, and you should now take your shot at the bowl picks.

Join Sports Editor Jordan Godwin for live coverage of the Division II-4A Region III Final between Manvel and La Marque at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Galena Park ISD Stadium.

Don't forget, you have until 15 minutes before kickoff to make your selections in our Pigskin Picks football contest.

Today's chat is sponsored by Texas First Bank and McRee Ford.



Comments that include profanity, personal attacks, antisocial behavior or other inappropriate material will be removed. You are responsible for the content you post. See our Discussion Guidelines.

Join our playoff preview chat for a nice side of high school football with Sports Editor Jordan Godwin Friday at 7 p.m. to prepare for opening kickoff. Then join us for live game coverage of the Division II-4A Region III Final between Manvel and La Marque at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Galena Park ISD Stadium.

Don't forget, you have until 15 minutes before kickoff to make your selections in our Pigskin Picks football contest.

Today's chat is sponsored by Texas First Bank and McRee Ford.



Comments that include profanity, personal attacks, antisocial behavior or other inappropriate material will be removed. You are responsible for the content you post. See our Discussion Guidelines.

Our sports world is moving so fast right now that I’m just trying to keep up. In this post, I’ll ask 20 questions that we’ll have answered by Sunday evening.

Cougars

1. Can La Marque beat Manvel two months after the 29-14 loss?

2. How will La Marque’s offensive line handle Manvel’s monstrous defensive line?

3. Will La Marque attack Manvel’s defense through the air or on the ground?

4. What live chats will The Daily News have this week?

5. Will there be another brawl in this game with emotions running high?

Texans

6. Can rookie quarterback T.J. Yates play well enough to beat the Falcons?

7. How many times might the Texans sack Matt Ryan?

8. How many rushing yards will Arian Foster have?

9. How many turnovers will the Texans have?

10. Will we see veteran backup quarterback Jake Delhomme on the field?

College football

11. Can Texas’ defense spoil Robert Griffin III’s Heisman quest at Baylor?

12. Will the University of Houston finally lose against a ranked team?

13. Can Oklahoma spoil Oklahoma State’s notion that they should play for a title?

14. Will we see an LSU/Alabama rematch in the national championship game?

15. Will Georgia even score two touchdowns in this so-called SEC title game?

High School Hoops

16. Can Clear Springs return to the championship game of the Carlisle/Krueger Classic?

17. Which reigning regional finalist will win its first game first, Ball or La Marque?

18. If Clear Creek and Clear Falls play in the Carlisle/Krueger Classic, who’s the favorite?

19. Can Friendswood upset Bellaire on Friday?

20. Who has been the most improved team so far this season?

Jordan’s answers:

1. It’ll be tough but yes.

2. Desperate aggression.

3. Let ‘er fly!

4. Preview chat on Friday night at 7 p.m. and play-by-play beginning at 1:45 p.m. Saturday.

5. Hopefully not.

6. Probably not.

7. Four.

8. 124.

9. Three.

10. Better hope not.

11. Yes, but not sure about a victory.

12. Unlikely.

13. Definitely but hopefully not.

14. Sigh, probably, yawn.

15. Psht, unlikely.

16. Oh, yes, but Clear Lake will be tough.

17. La Marque.

18. Clear Falls.

19. Eek! possibly.

20. Texas City boys, hands down.