Strunk Arrives in Port Isabel
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PORT ISABEL – Jason Strunk is ready to go. He’s busy working on a game plan for the Tarpons.
The proud Pennsylvania native’s goal has always been to be a high school coach in Texas.
“Our library had Friday Night Lights and I picked it up and started reading it cover to cover,” said Strunk. “That and Catcher in the Rye were probably the first books I ever read cover to cover. I remember telling my mom I’m going to coach in Texas one day. I’m going to do this.”
His first job in Texas was at Lubbock High School where in seven seasons, his teams won a total of 11 games.
“Those 11 wins I had at Lubbock High, I wear it on my sleeve and I don’t shy away from that,” said Strunk. “Those were 11 upsets. We were never favored to win, not one time in my tenure at Lubbock. We broke a 40-year playoff drought.”
Some of Strunk’s other coaching stops have been successful. Before coming to Texas, he was an assistant at Purdue University. He was also the head football coach at Plant City High School in Florida.
“I’ve coached in Division I,” said Strunk. “You don’t end up there because you don’t know football. I built a program in Florida that got national attention pretty fast. I developed 19 Division I athletes.”
At Port Isabel, Strunk has been tasked with restoring the winning tradition that was built by longtime coach Monty Stumbaugh.
Strunk plans on using a big offensive playbook.
“We’re going to be multiple,” said Strunk. “We’re going to be all over the place. A lot of formations. Lots of different things that Port Isabel has done, with a new wrinkle. I will tell you, the power run game is going to be evident. We’re going to win. I’ve done it the right way. I’ve learned it the right way.”
Strunk’s Tarpons open practice August 6th. Their first game will be against Porter August 31st.
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