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GOING GREEN: ALVIN ISD tabs top assistant as Shadow Creek's head man
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.
STATE SEMIFINALS PREVIEW: Celina geared up to battle Davenport
After missing the state tournament last year, Celina is back for their second tournament appearance. The Lady Bobcats have put forth the amount of effort necessary to be not only one of the best 4A volleyball teams in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, but one of the best in the entire state. VYPE DFW takes a look at Celina's road to state and what fans can expect out of this Thursday semifinal pairing with Comal Davenport.
Regular Season Play
With only eight losses this season, Celina has been working hard to make it back to the stage they were on just two seasons ago in the program's first-ever state tournament appearance (2021). After not making it to this stage last year, Celina knew they were hungry for more and entered the season with four consecutive victories over Ponder, Lubbock Cooper, Chisholm Trail, and Lake Worth. Continuing to battle through non-district play, the Lady Bobcats sharpened their skills against tough opponents like Sunnyvale, Trinity Christian Academy - Addison, Denton, Springtown, North Lamar, and more. The team even faced off against reigning 3A state champion, Gunter-- who is on their own quest for another state title this season. Finishing non-district play strong, Celina was powered up and ready for district play.
Through district play, Celina dropped only one match-- a hard-fought 3-1 showdown against Aubrey. Aside from their loss, the team utilized strong athletes like Morgan Kelley, Kinley Hammons, McKenna Paulson, Landry Graf, Ryan McCoy, Ashley Woodrum, Kinsey Murray, Reagan Radtke, Aubrey Lamber, and more in statement victories over the likes of Anna, Panther Creek, Ranchview, Van Alstyne, and more to finish at the top of their district standings with a 10-1 district record.
Playoffs So Far
So far in the playoffs, Celina has shut out four of their five opponents. Defeating Dallas Hampton Prep, Ferris, Van Alstyne, and Lindale, the Lady Bobcats geared up for a revenge match against Aubrey. Working hard and showcasing talent on the court, the team pulled off a 3-1 victory in sets over Aubrey to advance to this season's UIL Class 4A Volleyball State Semifinal match against Comal Davenport. Up to this point, the team has remained strong with impressive plays and has outscored their opponents by a combined 95-37 sets this season.
What To Expect
Celina has a fire in their heart and the right amount of determination to succeed in the semifinals this season and only one team stands in their way of punching their ticket to the state finals-- Comal Davenport (45-5, 12-0). Davenport has had an incredible season with an undefeated district run and statement victories of their own. The Lady Bobcats are going to want to keep a watchful eye on Davenport's top athletes like Talan Dodson, Ashtan Dodson, Alexis Dahl, Emily Williams, Ryan Kovacs, Ophelia Murphy, and more this Thursday on the court in the program's first-ever state tournament appearance.
Lady Bobcat fans can expect this team to bring the action and put in great plays against their opponents. This match can be expected to be highly physical with great game IQ from both sides of the net. Be sure you catch all the action. The game is set to begin at 5 p.m. at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas.