From small-town Mississippi to the big Class 6A Texas High School brand of Shadow Creek, Tyrone Green wanted this job.
After assistant coaching stints at Lamar High, Manvel and Shadow Creek -- where he was the past eight seasons -- Alvin ISD named Green as the successor to coach Brad Butler, who retired weeks ago.
“I’m really excited to be able to continue to serve this community,” Green, 43, said. “It’s almost surreal… the whole thing. It was my dream to take over this job when Brad left, it just came a lot quicker than expected.
“This is a great group of kids and a great staff that we have here. We are going to stay consistent throughout the program. When you win a state championship, you get the taste of it. I still have it, so we are going to roll up our sleeves, instill some grit and go to work.”
Green was a part of a Lamar staff, led by legendary coach Tom Nolen, that reached the state finals in 2012. The Texans would eventually fall to Allen High’s Kyler Murray.
He then helped lead Shadow Creek to the 2018 Class 5A DI state finals against Highland Park (loss 27-17), before winning the title in 2019 in a 28-22 win over Denton Ryan.
Green played his high school ball at Shannon High School in Mississippi, before being recruited by the University of Houston where he played offensive line.
“I pride myself as being an offensive lineman and a tough guy,” he laughed. “So, I get fired up on the sidelines and bring a lot of energy. I want to bring my brand of toughness to the program.”
His had been inspired for decades along his path.
“My uncle was a high school coach,” he said. “Some of my coaches at UH like Jason Phillips really inspired me to get into coaching. I’ve always wanted to give back and help kids be successful.”
Working for Brad Butler has also inspired the Sharks’ new head coach.
“What I learned from Brad was his ability to listen to people,” he said. “He always showed poise and could stay cool under pressure. He balanced me out and that’s why we worked so well together. He reaches kids in a different way than I do, and he’s been a really effective coach and a good friend.”
Now, it’s his team and Shadow Creek is loaded with talent, as usual.
“I’m excited and blessed for this opportunity and I’m going make the most of it,” he said. “My plan is to be on the field coaching and helping call the plays on offense.”
His ultimate field general is his wife, Brittany.
“I know that this new position will pull me from my family some, but I have a great wife at home,” the father of a one and four-year-old said.
If you have known coach Tyrone Green over the past 20 years, you would know that he is absolutely the right man for this job.
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
