Mission: win state

Danny David loves the sport of track because it separates the weak from the strong.

Pilot Point’s newly hired head football coach and athletic director has an extensive vision for his football program. A big part of that is finding what players he can count on when it matters most.

That’s where the 400-meter race comes into play.

“Every offseason, we run the 400. Let’s say there are two runners out there and it’s the final lap and they’re both neck and neck. They turn the corner and hit the backstretch. Both of them are hurting. One guy tails off and the other guy keeps running through. What guy am I going to win with in the fourth quarter? I’m going to win with the guy that finished. I’m a firm believer that track is the most important sport there is because if you can run, you can do just about anything,” David said.

David won two state championships as a running back, linebacker and quarterback for the Bearcats in 1980 and 1981. He wants to instill in his players the feeling of pride that comes with winning it all, especially in the football capital of the country.

“There isn’t a better feeling than knowing you’re the best in your classification in Texas high school football,” David said.

High school also creates memories that last a lifetime, David said.

“I’ve been out of high school for a long time, but the memories that you make in high school are going to be with you forever,” he said. “I’ve had some success in college, but I still remember the times we had here in Pilot Point.

“I remember going on trips and coming back home singing like little kids. I remember our local barber Hollis would dress up like a bulldog during pep rallies and jump out of a box and get chased around by our Bearcat mascot. You never forget things like that; those memories will carry on for a lifetime,” he said.

After graduating from Pilot Point in 1983, David went to the University of North Texas and played quarterback for three years on a football scholarship before transferring to Tarleton State University. David was voted into the Tarleton State University Hall of Fame in 2001 for his play at quarterback.

David started his coaching career at Celina under G.A. Moore in 1990 and coached there 12 years before taking an assistant coaching position at Pilot Point for three years. In 2005, David took the head coach job at Collinsville where he coached for 12 years. During his tenure at Collinsville, David made the playoffs nine times.

David is bringing defensive coordinator Brian Freese over to Pilot Point to run the well-known 10-1 scheme first installed by Moore. Freese coached with David at Collinsville for 10 years.

The goal is simple: win state championships.

“I want to play for a state championship every year,” David said. “If you’re not striving to be the best, then why are we even doing this?”

David plans to assess the talent coming from the middle school, junior varsity, and what he has returning from last year’s roster.

One thing that stood out to David was the athletic ability of returning quarterback Quincy Kemp.

“I met him the other night at the basketball game; I’ve heard nothing but good things,” David said. “After watching him play, it was obvious that he has a different gear.”

David will spend the rest of the school year meeting players, parents, teachers and others in an effort to build trust.

“Trust is extremely important,” David said. “For these players to do what we ask on the field, they’ve got to buy in and believe that we have their best interest in mind.”