Football: Pearland HFC Tony Heath resigns

Pearland head football coach Tony Heath said locker room facilities and improvements to The Rig are the most pressing athletic needs at PHS. Pearland head football coach Tony Heath said locker room facilities and improvements to The Rig are the most pressing athletic needs at PHS. Photo: Kirk Sides Photo: Kirk Sides Image 1 of / 5 Caption Close Football: Pearland HFC Tony Heath resigns 1 / 5 Back to Gallery

Tony Heath, who guided Pearland to a 2010 state championship and a 2013 title appearance, has resigned as the Oilers' head football coach after 20 seasons, the last 18 of which produced playoff appearances.

Heath's abrupt halt to his prolific coaching career came Tuesday morning when he informed his players of his decision.

"I've been blessed to have had a great run here in Pearland," Heath said. "I knew the time was near when I might not be here much longer.

"When the opportunity came (for a different challenge), I knew it might not come again. My wife and my family agreed that this was the right time to do it."

Heath's new venture starts Aug. 1 when he begins his role as business develop manager in the Houston area for Hellas Construction. Until then, Heath will serve on the Pearland ISD staff until July 31.

"I was looking for opportunities beyond football, but I didn't know what I wanted," Heath said. "I was hoping for an opportunity to still continue to work in the sports market…to work with administrators and coaches that I've been associated with the last 31 years.

"I was very picky, and Hellas has a great reputation as far as performance and product. They've installed turf for the Baylor Bears and Dallas Cowboys. I definitely wanted to attach my name to a strong company, and Houston is a great market."

Heath, by far, is the most successful coach in the history of Pearland football.

In his two decades at the Oiler helm, Heath produced a record of 195 wins and just 53 losses.

That computes to almost 10 wins per season as opposed to less than three setbacks per campaign.

In his first season as the Oiler head coach in 1997, Pearland finished the regular season with a 2-8 record, but amazingly, made the playoffs.

That record prompted a short-lived, but memorable cheer: "2-8…going to state".

Pearland lost the next week, but the Oilers' foundation for success had been laid.

In 1998, Pearland recorded a 5-5 record which would represent the last non-winning season with Heath at the helm.

In 1999, the Oilers carved out an 8-2 record, but missed the playoffs…something that would never happen again the rest of Heath's career as head coach.

In 2000, the Pearland posted an 8-4 record, beginning the 18 consecutive years of playoff appearances. The Oilers would win no less than eight games per season the remainder of Heath's tenure.

Pearland amassed a record of 173-33 in Heath's final 17 years, reaching the state semifinals in 2001 and 2006 before winning the Class 6A state championship over Euless Trinity, 28-24, to complete a 16-0 season in 2010.

However, it's the 2013 title game in which Pearland (14-2) lost to Allen which elicits Heath's fondest memory.

"The biggest moment for me – and it's unfortunate we didn't get the win – was getting to share the state championship game with my son, Connor," Heath said. "That was the top for me.

"We weren't expected to do anything that year, and for Connor (the team's quarterback) to have that playoff drive he had was special. He finished the last 4 ½ games for us, and we weren't expected to win any of those.

"That was special, plus getting to raise my kids from first grade through 12th in the same school district is up there, also. Of course, winning the state championship is on the list and seeing how it changed the community and football team.

"That was a proud moment for a lot of people. The 2001 team was special, also, the first team to get to the state semis. There were a lot of big wins and too many special players to name.

"Many of those have gone on to become great college players, pro players, great fathers, great businessmen and great city leaders."

Prior to Heath's arrival, Pearland varsity football teams won only six games from 1990 until 1996. Heath arrived in Pearland from La Marque where the Cougars had won state titles in 1995, 1996 and 1997.

Heath and his staff quickly infused a winning a mentality which became infectious and remains so today.

Upon his retirement, Heath will have invested 31 years into coaching.

"It's tough leaving, but I'm OK with it because the program is in better shape than when we got here,'" Heath said. "I also believe I'm leaving it in quality hands. The coaches here care about kids and care about football.

"I'll never get used to not being on the sidelines. I think that's something that's ingrained in me. That's the biggest adrenaline rush a person can have. The excitement, the thrills, the agonies.

"But the grind, the hours you have to put into it and the time away from my family, I won't miss that part, and I'm looking forward to spending more time with my family."

James Farmer, Pearland's defensive coordinator, is the on-campus coach most likely to succeed Heath as the Oilers' head football coach.