HOWE’S HAPPENINGS One of the things I hate the most, personally, is when someone says they are going to do something and they don’t follow through. This time, I am the guilty party-
This week, the room in the paper was down to the wire for everything to fit right aesthetically. I had two options– either cut the football article short and talk about taxes or skip the taxes article again this week in favor of sports news. Just like how some of us delay doing our taxes until the last minute during tax season to watch or play sports games instead– that is what I did in my writing this week. I am a human on this other end of the paper and I’d rather “go throw the football outside than do my taxes this week” I hope y’all forgive me and enjoy the football article! We’ll get to those taxes, eventually! EDITOR’S NOTE—This column is reserved as an editorial column and may not necessarily reflect the policy of this publication.
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Thursday, July 10, 2025
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New Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Jake Smith Hired Ashley Husbands Monday, the Howe ISD Board of Trustees scheduled a special meeting to hire Coach Jake Smith as the new High School Athletic Director and Head Football Coach. Smith’s wife, Courtney Smith, has also been hired as the new Dean of Instruction at the High School. Howe showed what it means to live in a small town of caring people, as many showed up to welcome the new family to our community at the meeting. This week, The Howe Enterprise interviewed Kevin Wilson, Howe ISD Superintendent and Jake Smith about the upcoming year and football season. Kevin Wilson answered the following questions: What will the new position for Courtney Smith entail and how are you feeling about adding her to the staff?
to recruit quality applicants. Fortunately, we were able to identify several qualified coaches and complete the interview process within 2 weeks. It was a whirlwind, but I feel like we found the perfect fit for our program and school district.” What impact do you feel High School Football has on the Howe school district and the community as a whole? “We all recognize the impact that high school football has on a school and community, especially in a small town such as Howe. I have been involved as a coach, administrator, and parent, and I have seen the benefits from every possible angle. I truly believe Coach Smith will infuse energy, dedication and character into not just football but all of our athletic programs. I’m excited for the future of Bulldog athletics.”
Jake Smith has an impressive coaching resume and Jake Smith, Courtney Smith, children: Colt, Rhett and Palmer sports background, with Photo Credit: Ashley Husbands Courtney is filling the experience in several role of Dean of Instrucschools including Van coaching philosophy, Howe in a positive way, tion that became open Alstyne and most recently generally and for and promote the elea late hire there’s not when Adam Washburn at the successful sports Howe specifically? ments of teamwork and much that you can left recently. We were program in Ennis, TX. He leadership. change other than just excited to have such a is excited for his new com“Athletic Philosophy: loving the kids and instilquality applicant availa- mitment to Howe, TX. Smith believes that the ling belief- getting them ble, as she has experiThe following is the interthings needed to build to believe that they can Athletics is an opporence as an assistant prin- view with Coach Smith: and maintain a champiwin and they are winners tunity for students to cipal and testing coordionship level athletic deand through hard work learn to work together nator. We are always What is a little bit of backand see the values of partment are to create an and putting them in tough happy to be able to hire ground about you? hard work and sportsidentity and culture that positions to where they’re spouses in our district, as manship. Athletics is based on: facing some adversity it it creates a family atmos- “I was born and raised in should not be viewed “Discipline And Toughwill help them get outphere and an added layer Edmond, Oklahoma and as an embellishment of ness and to develop the and then it’s our job as of commitment. graduated from Deer ( the school. Athletics is athletes in grades 7-12 coaches to get the kids to Creek High School, home just as important as any through a year round believe. Once the kids What was the process of the Antlers. I started program that will inaspect of the curricubelieve and they have to get this all arranged coaching in Oklahoma and positive self-talk and they lum. Athletics is a moti- crease football so fast, in time for footwhen I married my wife, knowledge, and ensay “hey I am a good vating factor for the ball season? she decided that we would hance them physically, football player, I am a academic success of like to move back to Texas. students and drives the mentally, socially, and good volleyball player, I “Time was definitely of We had ventured our way culture of the school. emotionally. Our goal is am a good basketball the essence in hiring down to Houston Texas, to get each kid in the player”- then you know Coach Smith. With and then made our way up Mission Statement: program to go where that confidence will allow football practice beginto North Texas. I was able they cannot take themthem to skyrocket and the ning in just over 3 to work with some really Our mission in Howe selves. We will help skills will come, but just weeks, we knew it good people like Michael is to promote the perthem reach this level through playing really would require an expeMiller in Van Alstyne and through building a relasonal growth of our hard and believing that dited process. Our HS Sam Harrell in Ennis Textionship that encourages you can execute your job, Principal, Andy Cellars, as a little bit further south.” players, believe in a excellence. Specifically I think will allow the kids strong work ethic that and I reached out to sevfor Howe since it’s such to have success leads to being thorough eral contacts that we had What is your vision/ and prepared, represent (Continued on Page 4)