EARLY – The head coaching debut of Marvin Wilson officially begins at 5:45 a.m. Monday morning with the first football practice of the 2025 school year for the Early Longhorns.
A 20-year coaching veteran, mostly recently spending time as defensive coordinator at Brownwood, Wilson will attempt to approach his first practice as a head coach much in the same way he has throughout the rest of his career.
“In all honesty, I fully expect it just to be the first day, just as it has been for the last 20 years, no different,” Wilson said. “The role’s different, but I’m still coaching. I don’t think that I could be a guy that just managed it. I’m still the guy that wants to get a little dirty and get in there.”
Regarding the anticipation for the start of the season, Wilson said, “It’s been a wild ride, but I’m excited, our kids have worked hard and put in the time in the weight room during summer workouts. It’s like Christmas, you’re waiting and still have to be patient. It’s coming, but you have to wait on it just a little bit longer.”
Goals for the first week of practice, according to Wilson, are, “one, it doesn’t matter how much you’ve worked in the spring and summer, you have to get back into football shape. Get the heavy legs out from under them, and then learn and build their confidence. If they can learn and understand, we can play fast without thinking. We’re not going to overwhelm them, but get the knowledge to them, get them into good habits with the how to’s, get them in position, and let them play.”
Installation of a new offensive and defensive system will also be a primary focus in the opening week.
“Offensively what we’re doing is not that different, it’s a different terminology,” Wilson said. “Last year I wasn’t here so I don’t know what their identity was defensively, but we’re going to run a 3-4 look, and mentality, discipline and effort is what we’re after on both sides of the ball.”
Joining Wilson on staff are offensive coordinator and receivers coach Ryan Jackson, defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach Derrick Stacks, running backs coach Bryan Clark, offensive line coach Heath Tullous, tight ends coach Ty Palmer, quarterbacks coach Scott Tello, defensive line coach Greg Vaughn, secondary coach Tyler Vaughn, and assistant secondary and linebackers coach Tyler Sattler. Wilson stated he will also coach the inside linebackers.
After Monday’s initial practice, the Longhorns will hit the field at 8 a.m. the rest of the week.
Early will visit Wall Friday, Aug. 15 in its first scrimmage, then welcome Albany Thursday, Aug. 21 for the final scrimmage. The Longhorns open the regular season Friday, Aug. 29 at home against Bangs.