Madill Public Schools announced Tuesday that a Special Board of Education Meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 12 in the Administrative Center Conference Room. The lone agenda item to hire Chad Speer as the next head football coach for Madill High School. Speer will also take on the role of Dean of Students.
The position has been vacant since head football coach Todd Vargas took the same position at Durant High School on February 14.
MPS superintendent Larry Case and athletic director Bink Stafford met exclusively with The Madill Record to discuss their choice of Speer as the next football coach as well as the hiring process itself.
Case advised that the hire is contingent on board approval.
“The plan is after spring break to get him here and on board,” Case said. “Of spring football will be later this year and we want our new guy present.”
Speer is currently on staff at Durant High School as the offensive line coach. He was the offensive coordinator at Southeastern Oklahoma State University from 2013 to 2018. Speer joined the SEOSU as offensive line coach in 2010.
Case said there were more than 35 applicants for the position.
“We’re very pleased with not only number, but the quality of the applicants,” he said. “What happened was [Stafford and I] sifted through and brought it down to ten we were really interested in. We brought in six to interview.”
Case said three coaches came in for a second interview. He said the first interview was done by Stafford and himself while Madill High School principal Jason Ward was added to the second interview since the role will also include a position as Dean of Students.
“Then, two stood out,” Case said. “Really, what separated Coach Speer was he some head coaching experience in the past and once again what separated him. Pending board approval Thursday night, that’s who we’re gonna go with.”
Case said Speer has a lot of contacts in this area, which will help for filling the football staff.
“That’s something Coach Vargas had as a positive,” Case said. “There’s only so many certified positions I have so he will know people who can fill those.
Case said everyone they talked to can coach.
“My big thing is fit,” he said. “And I think he will be a good fit. He had the it factor. He’s the type that can get the community excited and involved.”
Stafford said Speer impressed him in his desire to be at Madill.
“He truly wanted to be a Wildcat,” Stafford said. “It will be a new day. He’s gonna bring fresh ideas in.”
Stafford said Speer’s college experience was also a strong selling point.
“He has the experience and knowhow,” he said.
Speer’s resume
According to Speer’s bio from Southeastern’s website, “He comes to SOSU after 3 years as the Head Coach at Leavenworth High School in Leavenworth, KS, where he helped the Pioneers end a 19-game losing streak.
“Prior to his arrival at Leavenworth, Speer spent the 2005 and 2006 seasons as a Graduate Assistant at Northwest Missouri State University where he tutored both the Offensive Line and Tight Ends.
“In his two seasons, the Bearcats compiled a two-year overall record of 25-5, winning 1 MIAA Conference Championship in 2006. They also made two trips to the NCAA Division II National Playoffs, falling both years in the National Championship Game.
“A native of Harrisonville, Missouri, Speer played along the offensive line at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Education from William Jewell in 2004 and his Master’s of Science Degree in Health and Physical Education from Northwest Missouri State in 2006.
Speer and his wife, Karla, and two sons, Kyson and Kyler, reside in Calera.”