Ardmore Schools hire ex-Ada coach as new football coach

The Ardmore-Ada high school rivalry is one of the longest-running in the state. It just now got a new twist added to it.

Two-time former Ada Cougars football coach Larry McBroom was hired as the new Tigers football coach Thursday, replacing Mike Loyd.

“We’re very excited because Ardmore has great tradition,” McBroom said. “They not only put quality players on the field, but quite a few go on to the next level. It’s an outstanding program. I’m just very honored that I was considered to get to come.”

McBroom wasn’t the only hire announced at the Ardmore School Board meeting. Ardmore Middle School art teacher Kristie Jessop was promoted to the post of principal at Charles Evans Elementary School.

“The most important thing we hope to accomplish is to have the privilege of helping young people become better people,” McBroom said. “That’s what high school athletics are all about — helping them to develop a mindset of excellence, which part of it is taking their God-given talent and developing it to the fullest so they can be the very best they can be. That is foremost what we hope to do. We hope to do that athletically, as well, and get to be a part of young peoples’ lives. I can’t think of anything more exciting or rewarding than to have a part in young peoples’ lives.”

For McBroom, getting the Ardmore job was a way to come back home, so to speak.

“We loved our experience in Texas, but Oklahoma is home, and always will be,” McBroom said.

Coming back to Oklahoma has been on McBroom’s mind for about six months.

“I’ve been thinking about it since last fall,” he said. “We looked at a couple of things in the winter, but determined at that time we would stay in Texas. But then when the Ardmore job opened up, I didn’t know it was open. A friend and a former player, Brent Whitson — who used to live here in Ardmore — called me, and told me about it. Then, we thought and prayed long and hard, and it was something we should check out. And I guess you could say the rest is history.

“The only reason we went to Texas the second time was to complete being vested in the (Texas) retirement system,” McBroom said. “We’re so thankful we were able to do that. My wife, Julie, says that’s going to be her retirement because she doesn’t have a retirement plan in the nursing field.”

McBroom knows there’s bound to be mixed feelings in both cities — Ardmore and Ada.

“I’m sure that’s going to be there for a while,” he said. “But I think once (Ardmore citizens) see that we have a love and a passion for young men and women, we just want to help them. That’s our focus and passion. There’s young men and women who need to be loved, encouraged and disciplined. That’s what we’re going to be given the opportunity to do here. I think once people see that, I think they’ll be OK with it.

“They’ll be shocked first off,” McBroom said about Ada patrons. “But I think they will also be excited. They understand our heart, that we just want to try to help young people who need to be loved, disciplined and encouraged to try to make them the best they can be. I’ve had the privilege of coaching in four different places. This will be the fifth. We’re looking forward to it. I think former players will be excited about the opportunity we have to be back in Oklahoma.”

The traditional football opener is Ardmore vs. Ada, which this year will have a whole new perspective on the contest.

“It’s going to be a different look, but it’s one thing that we’re looking forward to and preparing for,” McBroom said.

If things go his way, McBroom will be at Monday’s off-season workout session.

“I understand it starts Monday,” he said. “Hopefully, we can be back (in Ardmore) and be ready to go by Monday. If they have a practice, I’ll be on the field.”
David Seeley, 221-6527
david.seeley@ardmoreite.com