Tarkington ISD on Wednesday, April 3, announced the hiring of a new athletic director, Zach Bass, who has worked in lead coaching positions for school districts in La Porte, Port Neches-Groves and Port Arthur.
“Coach Bass’s service as an educator and coach, experience in lead positions and effective and positive communication style, are what set him apart as the finalist. We are extremely excited for Coach Bass to join the Longhorns as AD and Head Football coach,” according to a statement from the district. “Coach Bass believes in all programs and that coaching is about teaching kids with a positive and nurturing environment. He has experience coaching at the High School and Middle School level. He has coached football, soccer, powerlifting, as well as track and field. We received excellent recommendations from past districts and feel fortunate to welcome a leader eager to become not only a part of our school family, but also a part of our community.”
Bass’s coaching background includes his most recent post with Port Arthur ISD as the offensive coordinator, where led the football team last year to a 9-2 season as a 5A-D1 District 9 runner-up and Bi-District finalist.
In his explanation to the district about his mission as athletic director, Bass said, “As the Athletic Director and Head Football Coach of Tarkington, I believe that it is my responsibility to be a positive role model for the students and student-athletes that I will have the privilege to teach and coach. I believe it is my purpose to guide our student-athletes toward a lifetime of success. Through relentless effort, we will pursue perfection. We will approach each day with a dynamic zeal and purpose to compete on the field and in the classroom, while improving as individuals. Through our program, our young men and women will become equipped to be diligent students, loving family men and women, and dutiful citizens.”
In addition to coaching, Bass is certified to teach social studies for grades 8-12 and holds a Masters certification in Educational Leadership.
“We at Tarkington ISD look forward to Mr. Zach Bass, wife Lindsey, and their young daughter, Kinley, joining the Longhorn family as they transition to the Prairie,” the TISD statement concludes.