Steele football coach's interest in Judson job big topic of conversation

Credit: David Flores / Kens5.com

Steele head football coach Mike Jinks played quarterback at Judson for three seasons in the late 1980s and was an assistant coach for the Rockets during the 1997-98 school year.

Steele High School football coach Mike Jinks figured people would start talking when he confirmed Saturday night that he plans to pursue the head coaching job at Judson.

Jinks, a 1990 Judson graduate who was a quarterback on the Rockets? varsity for three seasons in the late 1980s, just didn?t think he would be flooded with so many phone calls and text messages from the media, Judson and Steele fans, and his players at Steele.

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?It?s been crazy, almost overwhelming,? Jinks said Sunday night. ?People are acting like it?s already a done deal, that I?m going to Judson. But the Judson Independent School District has not made a commitment to me, nor have I made a commitment to Judson. ?

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?Everybody can speculate, but what I have said is that I believe I owe it to myself and my family to pursue the job. There is interest on my part. I?m not going to backtrack from that because it?s the truth. I?m not going to be coy when you ask me a question.?

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Jinks, who turns 40 next month, guided Steele to the Class 5A Division II state championship in 2010 and an appearance in the title game last season. The Knights are 63-16 in six varsity seasons under Jinks, who was head coach at Burbank for one season before moving to Steele when the school opened in 2005.

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Spring Dekaney beat the Knights 27-14 in the 5A Division II state final, snapping their 28-game winning streak.

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The Judson job became open last week when longtime Rockets coach Jim Rackley announced his retirement, effective Jan. 31. The Rockets went 101-37 and won a 5A Division I state title under Rackley, who coached at Judson for a total of 27 seasons.

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Defensive coordinator Mark Soto, a 1991 Judson graduate who has been on Rackley?s staff since 2005, was named interim head coach. Rackley has recommended Soto, 39, for the job.

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Soto and Jinks are former Judson teammates and good friends.

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While Jinks? strong ties to Judson and his impressive credentials would make him the front-runner to succeed Rackley, Jinks said he knows the job will attract some heavy hitters.

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?I respect the process,? Jinks said. ?I need to go through the process and it needs to be done the right way. I respect the administration at Judson and, of course, the administration at Steele. I?ve got a good job right now, one of the best in the state.?

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But Jinks, an assistant coach at Judson during the 1997-98 school year, left no doubt that it would be difficult to turn down an opportunity to be head coach at his alma mater.

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?Judson always has been special to me,? Jinks said. ?It?s been a great school before, it?s a great school now and it has the potential to be greater than ever. That excites me.?

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The Rockets have won six state championships, including one by forfeit, under three coaches: Frank Arnold (1983), D.W. Rutledge (1988, 1992, 1993, 1995) and Rackley (2002).

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Judson lost in the first round of the playoffs last season, finishing 8-3.

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?Judson?s been down a little the past few years, but it?s not because of?Coach Rackley,? Jinks said. ?He embodies the great things about the Judson program. It?s just a matter of getting the people in the community to pull together.?

Source: http://www.kens5.com/community/blogs/david-flores/Steele-coach-Jinks--136923673.html

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