From a school press release:
McCrary named High School Relations Director
A longtime coach in the state of Texas, Hardee McCrary moves into the newly-created role of High School Relations Director.
Austin -- A longtime coach with deep ties in Texas, including six seasons as a Longhorns assistant coach under Mack Brown, Hardee McCrary has been named to the newly-created position of High School Relations Director at Texas, Men’s Athletics Director Mike Perrin announcedFriday. McCrary, who has spent the last 11 years as Associate Director of Development in the Longhorn Foundation, will begin his new duties on Monday, Feb. 22.
“I’m extremely excited and proud to be working with Mike Perrin, Coach (Charlie) Strong, all of our sports programs and the entire athletic department in this effort to provide a resource to high school coaches,” McCrary said. "I’ve always been very proud of my roots as a Texas high school football player and coach. High school sports were my first love, my children were very active high school student-athletes, and it’s something my family and I still really enjoy being a part of. I’m thrilled to be able to be an ambassador to the high schools for this great university and athletic department."
As High School Relations Director, McCrary’s focus will be to build and maintain collaborative relationships with high school coaches and administrators and serve as a point of contact with UT Athletics. He will schedule practice visits, oversee Texas’ Annual High School Football Coaches Clinic, and build working relationships with high school coaches as allowable within NCAA rules. His position also allows him to maintain his previous responsibilities with overseeing the Big Wheels program within the Longhorn Foundation.
“As I have spoken to groups of alums, fans and others, the question has arisen: how do you stay in touch with high school coaches? A new position seemed appropriate, and Hardee is ideal for it,” Perrin said. "I’ve known him for a long time, and his personality, relationships and expertise are absolutely perfect for this position. He’ll serve an invaluable role for our department and be such a great resource for high school coaches and staff members, who are so important to us. Hardee is a guy who has been at Texas for nearly two decades and has worked around this state many more years. He knows his way around, has great relationships with so many people and really knows the needs of high school coaches. I can’t think of a better fit for our High School Relations Director.”
McCrary has maintained his relationships in coaching circles with heavy involvement in coaching clinics in the state. He has been a partner in the Angelo Coaching Clinic for the last 11 years, while also partnering to start the Lone Star Coaching Clinic in 1997.
"Having spent 17 years here, and with both of my children being proud UT graduates, it’s an opportunity to give back to a university that’s been tremendous to me and my family, while providing service to the high school coaches who have been so important in our lives,” McCrary said.
“I want all of the high school coaches to know we will have an open door policy to them. I’m just a phone call, text or email away, and I look forward to hearing from everyone.”
McCrary spent the previous six years (1998-2003) at Texas as defensive ends coach, and coached at the high school or college level for 30 years overall. During his time at UT, the Longhorns posted a 60-18 record (.769), including a then school-best six straight years with nine or more wins. The team also posted victories in two Cotton Bowls and one Holiday Bowl, while finishing rank in the Top 15 five times, in the Top 10 twice, and as high as No. 5 in 2001.
He helped produce five straight top 25 total defense finishes for Texas, including a nation’s best 236.2 yards per game in 2001, its lowest average since 1983 (212.0 ypg). McCrary led a talented group of defensive ends that combined to post 97 sacks and 204 tackles for loss, including Cory Redding, who was a finalist for the Lombardi Trophy and earned first-team All-American honors in 2002. Redding has gone on to play 13 seasons in the NFL after being drafted by the Detroit Lions in the third round of the 2003 draft.
Before coming to Texas, McCrary was at Rice for five seasons (1993-97), the last of which as defensive coordinator. Prior to that, he spent one season coaching the secondary at New Mexico State, and seven years at Tulane (1985-91). He served as the Green Wave's assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for his last four seasons there. He also coached the secondary at Angelo State in San Angleo, Texas from 1982-84.
McCrary’s first collegiate job was as tight ends and special teams coach at SMU from 1978-79. Following that, he worked one season (1981) as an assistant coach at J.J. Pearce High School in Richardson, Texas. His career began in the high school ranks, first as an assistant at Wylie (Texas) High School in 1974, and then at Berkner High School in Richardson from 1975-77.
A native of Richardson, McCrary was the MVP and team captain of the Austin College football team in 1972, and he later entered the school’s Athletic Hall of Honor in 2003. He received his degree in political science in 1973.
He and his wife, Susan, have a son, Cade, and a daughter, Cody, who are both graduates of Texas. Cade was a four-year letterman (2010-13) for football team, serving all of those years as the team’s holder on placekicks, while Cody is a former sprinter and hurdler on the women’s track & field team.
McCrary named High School Relations Director
A longtime coach in the state of Texas, Hardee McCrary moves into the newly-created role of High School Relations Director.
Austin -- A longtime coach with deep ties in Texas, including six seasons as a Longhorns assistant coach under Mack Brown, Hardee McCrary has been named to the newly-created position of High School Relations Director at Texas, Men’s Athletics Director Mike Perrin announcedFriday. McCrary, who has spent the last 11 years as Associate Director of Development in the Longhorn Foundation, will begin his new duties on Monday, Feb. 22.
“I’m extremely excited and proud to be working with Mike Perrin, Coach (Charlie) Strong, all of our sports programs and the entire athletic department in this effort to provide a resource to high school coaches,” McCrary said. "I’ve always been very proud of my roots as a Texas high school football player and coach. High school sports were my first love, my children were very active high school student-athletes, and it’s something my family and I still really enjoy being a part of. I’m thrilled to be able to be an ambassador to the high schools for this great university and athletic department."
As High School Relations Director, McCrary’s focus will be to build and maintain collaborative relationships with high school coaches and administrators and serve as a point of contact with UT Athletics. He will schedule practice visits, oversee Texas’ Annual High School Football Coaches Clinic, and build working relationships with high school coaches as allowable within NCAA rules. His position also allows him to maintain his previous responsibilities with overseeing the Big Wheels program within the Longhorn Foundation.
“As I have spoken to groups of alums, fans and others, the question has arisen: how do you stay in touch with high school coaches? A new position seemed appropriate, and Hardee is ideal for it,” Perrin said. "I’ve known him for a long time, and his personality, relationships and expertise are absolutely perfect for this position. He’ll serve an invaluable role for our department and be such a great resource for high school coaches and staff members, who are so important to us. Hardee is a guy who has been at Texas for nearly two decades and has worked around this state many more years. He knows his way around, has great relationships with so many people and really knows the needs of high school coaches. I can’t think of a better fit for our High School Relations Director.”
McCrary has maintained his relationships in coaching circles with heavy involvement in coaching clinics in the state. He has been a partner in the Angelo Coaching Clinic for the last 11 years, while also partnering to start the Lone Star Coaching Clinic in 1997.
"Having spent 17 years here, and with both of my children being proud UT graduates, it’s an opportunity to give back to a university that’s been tremendous to me and my family, while providing service to the high school coaches who have been so important in our lives,” McCrary said.
“I want all of the high school coaches to know we will have an open door policy to them. I’m just a phone call, text or email away, and I look forward to hearing from everyone.”
McCrary spent the previous six years (1998-2003) at Texas as defensive ends coach, and coached at the high school or college level for 30 years overall. During his time at UT, the Longhorns posted a 60-18 record (.769), including a then school-best six straight years with nine or more wins. The team also posted victories in two Cotton Bowls and one Holiday Bowl, while finishing rank in the Top 15 five times, in the Top 10 twice, and as high as No. 5 in 2001.
He helped produce five straight top 25 total defense finishes for Texas, including a nation’s best 236.2 yards per game in 2001, its lowest average since 1983 (212.0 ypg). McCrary led a talented group of defensive ends that combined to post 97 sacks and 204 tackles for loss, including Cory Redding, who was a finalist for the Lombardi Trophy and earned first-team All-American honors in 2002. Redding has gone on to play 13 seasons in the NFL after being drafted by the Detroit Lions in the third round of the 2003 draft.
Before coming to Texas, McCrary was at Rice for five seasons (1993-97), the last of which as defensive coordinator. Prior to that, he spent one season coaching the secondary at New Mexico State, and seven years at Tulane (1985-91). He served as the Green Wave's assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for his last four seasons there. He also coached the secondary at Angelo State in San Angleo, Texas from 1982-84.
McCrary’s first collegiate job was as tight ends and special teams coach at SMU from 1978-79. Following that, he worked one season (1981) as an assistant coach at J.J. Pearce High School in Richardson, Texas. His career began in the high school ranks, first as an assistant at Wylie (Texas) High School in 1974, and then at Berkner High School in Richardson from 1975-77.
A native of Richardson, McCrary was the MVP and team captain of the Austin College football team in 1972, and he later entered the school’s Athletic Hall of Honor in 2003. He received his degree in political science in 1973.
He and his wife, Susan, have a son, Cade, and a daughter, Cody, who are both graduates of Texas. Cade was a four-year letterman (2010-13) for football team, serving all of those years as the team’s holder on placekicks, while Cody is a former sprinter and hurdler on the women’s track & field team.
