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Comfort’s Toot accepts coaching job at Cuero
Published June 19, 2009
Comfort boys basketball and golf coach Colin Toot has accepted a similiar position at Cuero High School.
The veteran coach has been at Comfort for 22 years and has been a boys basketball coach for 27. Toot has won 447 games in his career and has made himself a stable commodity within the athletic department and community.
“It’s a better opportunity for me and my family,” Toot said of his move to Cuero. “We’re packing it up for bigger and brighter things.”
Toot showed interest in the Cuero job and shortly after was contacted by the Gobblers’ athletic staff.
“It happened real quick,” Toot said. “They felt like I was the one they were looking for. I’ve had offers before, but none of them were good ones.”
Toot will have the same responsibilities at Cuero, coaching basketball and boys and girls golf. Comfort Athletic Director Chip Mayfield said when Toot told him of the move last week he was surprised, but said the coach had good reasons to leave.
“I think he got a pay raise— a sizable pay raise— he also moves up a classification,” Mayfield said. “The number of kids that he can pull from went up and his class load went down. Those were the reasons he gave me for leaving.”
Comfort has seen several changes at athletic director recently, including three in one year before Mayfield was hired. The changes didn’t play a role in Toot’s decision, as he said some Comfort residents may feel he was forced out, but insists that is not the case.
“The perception is that I was forced out, but I wasn’t,” Toot said. “I don’t want to be negative, but a lot of people don’t think (Toot and his family) are leaving on our own terms. Bottom line is Cuero is a good job.”
Toot said the decision was not easy after spending 22 years in the area and having his kids grow up in the Comfort school district, and admitted the move will not be easy either. Toot believes many people in the Comfort area are happy for he and his family.
If Comfort fans do have hard feelings toward Toot, they may have to put it in the past as Mayfield announced Corey Harris, Toot’s assistant coach last season, as the interim head coach.
“As far as right now, with it being halfway through the summer, we have named Corey Harris our interim coach,” Mayfield said. “We have opened up the job and are accepting resumes.”
Because of Toot’s long tenure at Comfort, Mayfield insists he wants to keep the job as stable as possible, which means giving Harris an opportunity as head coach.
“I have all the confidence in the world in Harris, if need be coach Harris will be here for the start of this season.”
When Mayfield was asked if he would prefer giving Harris, who finished his first year at Comfort, a chance to be the permanent head coach, he replied, “definitely.”
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