Courtesy of Old Coach Network

CUERO- Mark Reeve, Alice staff

It took a while but the Cuero ISD finally has their HC/AD for 2003. Mark Reeve, Assistant Coach at Alice (30-4A) has decided to move back to the territory where he experienced much success in the past. Cuero (27-3A) is only 28 miles to the northwest of Victoria, where Reeve compiled an 87-17-4 record as head coach at Memorial HS from 1990 to 1998. Cuero will be Reeve's third stint as a head coach. He said he has enjoyed his short stay at Alice. "It was great to work on both sides of the ball. Its been a good experience for me. But the head coach has the most influence over the program and can make a huge impact." Reeve is the second choice for the Gobblers, since the school board earlier had hired Tommy Bludau (Boerne) who later backed out of the job. That doesn't matter to Reeve: "It didn't cause me any hesitancy at all," Reeve insisted. "The main focus should be on the athletes at Cuero. Those are the guys we really need to focus on. I just want things to work out the way they should work out." "Coach Reeve has been selected for many reasons," John Hall, superintendent of the Cuero school district said in a written statement. "He is a seasoned veteran of Texas football. He has a fabulous record of winning in many sports and highly values character development and academics as well as athletics for both boys and girls sports." Reeve will replace Bill Littleton who resigned in February. In four years Littleton guided the Gobblers to a 28-16 mark, making the playoffs three times. Gobbler fans have a long and envied record in 3A ball. They have made the playoffs fifteen times since 1983. Eight of those runs ended in a state finals game. Their last finals appearance was in '98 when they lost to Aledo, 7-14. Three times Cuero has been state champion ('73, '74 and '87). Reeve brings a good career record (108-26-4) as a head coach. That mark includes positions at Victoria Memorial and Plano West (a new school---one year was sub-varsity). He has held assistant coaching jobs at Frisco, Pearsall, San Antonio Southwest, San Antonio Jefferson, San Antonio Clark and Alice. Carlyle Stakes, president of the board of trustees, praised Reeve's credentials. "He has a great record in Texas football for a number of years," Stakes said. "His communication abilities are excellent and that will carry over to what he does on the field. He'll bring a real dimension to Cuero that we haven't had."

Record Editor - “I like to tell the athletes to play like your hair is on fire because most contests are games of wills.”

That is the approach of Cuero ISD’s new athletic director/head football coach Mark Reeve.

Reeve took over the athletic program here last week and has already put his imprint on the day-to-day activities at Cuero High School’s field house.

Issuing a set of goals and work-out schedules, he has developed a system he calls “Gobbler Maker.”

According to Coach Reeve, the goals involve the athletes and coaches. Number one is for each coach and player to give 100%. No. 2 is there are no selfish attitudes, each player does his part for the team.

For No. 3 he wants the individual and team to develop mental toughness, push through the pain barrier. No. 4 is to develop leadership under pressure and No. 5 is each player must earn the right to be called a ‘Gobbler.’

Goal No. 6 is: “Become a team. The best team always wins.”

Coach Reeve, 52, comes to Cuero almost 30 years experience as a coach. A graduate of Gatesville High School and Southwest Texas State University, he earned his Masters Degree in School Administration and Principal’s Certificate from Texas A&M Kingsville.

Most recently Reeve was offensive/defensive coordinator at Alice High School. Prior to that he was AD/head football coach for three years at Plano West Sr. High School, a new school for that school district.

For nine years through 1999 he was AD/head football coach at Victoria High School.

Overall Coach Reeve has a 108-26-4 football record.

He has held such honors of Coach of the Year eight times in the districts where he coached and is the fourth winningest 5A coach in Texas and the 13th winningest football coach for all classifications in the last 10 years.

Cuero School Board selected Reeve for the $65,000 a year job after their first choice declined the offer. Being the second choice for the school district is not a problem for Reeve.

“Cuero has great tradition,” he said. “This community cares about its kids. There are lots of family values here,” he said. “This community understands the values of the athletic program.”

Already familiar with the Gobblers as a result his working Victoria ISD, Coach Reeve noted, “This is a very athletic district. There are lots of good athletes in the district and the level of play is pretty high. It’s a pretty tough district from top to bottom.”

While still evaluating his coach staff and athletes, Reeve said, “I’ve been real happy with the attitudes of the kids. They are excited about getting started.”

But he added, “I don’t take things for granted. You have to let the athletes know our expectations. We’ve promised them we will work them harder than they’ve ever been worked in their lives, but they are going to enjoy it.”

He said, “Everyone is interested in being successful. I don’t believe it is the x’s and o’s that win games. What wins is discipline, character and hard work ethics. But we will have good x’s and o’s and we will have good athletes on the field.”

He added, “Raw talent is not something that really impresses me. It’s what’s in the guy that impresses me. It’s more important what you do with the talent.”

“It’s important for our kids to see themselves as champions,” he said. “It’s work ethics that determine success.”

While it is still early in the review process, Coach Reeve said he will be replacing two coaches. Coach Tooter Draper has accepted the offensive coordinator’s job at Bay City and Coach Greg Nemac has decided to serve CHS as a full-time teacher giving up his coaching responsibilities.

Coach Reeve says 'thanks' to helpers

A big thanks for a good start.

On behalf of the athletes and coaches of Cuero ISD, I would like to thank all he parents, coaches, maintenance personnel,Booster Club, School Board and administration for their help in getting our facilities ready for the 2003 school year.

If you haven't been by to see the spruced up facilities, we have made some improvements. Our Cuero Booster Club and parents have donated funds to air condition the Junior High girls locker room, paint the lockers and add carpet to the old weight room and covert it to a girls varsity dressing room.

The Boosters and coaches painted the varsity, JV and freshmen boys locker rooms and assistant coaches offices. A girl's parent group headed by Ray Reese painted and rebuilt the girls' lockers and girls' coaches' offices and dressing rooms.

We now have a room for our cheerleaders and Trotters that is currently being remodeled by the cheerleader and dance team parents.

Our boy's and girl's programs have something to be proud of. Pride starts at home and everyone should have a much improved facility when they report back to school this month.

Thanks again Cuero for caring about your young people along with the hard work and time that has been donated by so many people.

I would like to also thank Ace High, Dr. Hall, Louis Martinez and his maintenance staff, Francis Vaughn, Joe Gonzales, Gary Kohl and Debbie Kohl, BJ Drehr, Travis Spears, Kenneth Schumacher, Jimmy Mayer, James Koenig, Bob Davis, Jan Reeve, Ray and Helen Reese, Brad and Cecilia Hedrick, Jim Hedrick, Dwayne Noack, Herb Spencer, Jimbo Holland, Bill Matthys, Mark and Rene Heard, and the parents and Cuero Booster Club that donated the money for the improvements.

On a personal note, I would also like to thank all the past AD's and head coaches that have carried the Gobbler banner in the past and made Cuero such a great place to work. Thanks Buster, Pat, Larry, Ronnie, Mickey and Bill.