In February of 2022, Jeff Joseph was named the 20th head football coach at Port Neches-Groves High School. It was his first head coaching job.
Two years later, Coach Joseph is the undisputed Coach of the Year recipient from practically every Texas organization that honors high school football coaching excellence!
How did Coach Joseph achieve this seemingly meteoric recognition, and lead storied football power Port-Neches Groves to its first state title since 1975?
Host Dr. Buck Ford and his podcast partner Judge Brad Burnett attempt to answer that question, as they talk with Coach Joseph about a variety of topics, including:
The podcast brings up several names from Southeast Texas, including Dr. Mike Gonzales, Kevin Schexnaider, Todd Dodge, Coach Joe Washington, Jonathan Hernandez, Jacob Cabrera, Cory Parsons, Reid Richard, Reagan Droddy, Kameron Droddy, Max Scroggs, Matt McDaniel, Jon Deckert, Scott Ryan, Coach Lewis Ford, Bum Phillips, Barbara Comeaux...and more!
Other well-known and lesser known names discussed in the podcast include Ric Renner, Riley Dodge, Gary Joseph, Eddie Joseph, Johnny Manziel, Mark Snyder, John Chavis, Kevin Sumlin, Blake Joseph, Jeff Banks, Judy Garland...and more!
In January of 2022, legendary coach Todd Dodge was hired as a consultant on PN-G's head coaching search. In a Season Three interview on Down Trails of Victory podcast, Todd Dodge said, at the culmination of that head coaching search, "I recommended Jeff Joseph."
What qualities did Jeff Joseph possess that led to that recommendation? Find out here...as Down Trails of Victory podcast presents:
Jeff Joseph, Texas 5A Coach of the Year, and head coach of the 2023 State Champion Port Neches-Groves Indians!
Right here, on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Jeff Joseph received several Coach of the Year honors in 2023, including from the Texas High School Coaches Association. Hear Texas' Coach of the Year talk about PN-G football, on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
Coach Joseph receiving one of several Coach of the Year awards. Hear Coach Joseph talk about his road to success, on Down Trails of Victory podcast! (Photo from Ric Renner's podcast with Jeff Joseph)
PN-G fans had higher aspirations for their head coach, as posted on this run-through sign at the State Championship game vs South Oak Cliff. Hear Coach Joseph talk about his coaching experiences at PN-G on Down Trails of Victory podcast! (Photo credit unknown)
Hear Coach Joseph talk about his family of coaching legends--grandfather Eddie Joseph, and father Gary Joseph--on Down Trails of Victory podcast! (Photo from Ric Renner's podcast with Jeff Joseph)
Jeff's father Gary Joseph donned purple and white to support his son and the Indians in their state championship game vs South Oak Cliff. Gary Joseph is a Texas High School coaching legend, with five state championship titles as head coach at Katy, and nine state title game appearances. Hear about Jeff Joseph's football family ties, on Down Trails of Victory podcast! (Photo from Ric Renner's podcast with Jeff Joseph)
Hear Coach Joseph talk about the influence his mom Sheila Joseph had on his career path, a path that took him to a 2023 state championship win vs South Oak Cliff--right here on Down Trails of Victory podcast! (Photo from Ric Renner's podcast with Jeff Joseph)
The Joseph family==decked out in Purple and White--rode the PN-G title train to the State Championship game vs South Oak Cliff. Hear abouth Coach Joseph's family connections to football, on Down Trails of Victory podcast! (Photo from Ric Renner's podcast with Jeff Joseph)
Jeff Joseph was a senior captain on Katy's 2000 5A state champion football team. Hear about Coach Josephs football background, and about his first experience with PN-G football his junior year, on Down Trails of Victory podcast! (Photo from Ric Renner's podcast with Jeff Joseph)
Coach Joseph spent three years coaching defense at his college alma mater, Texas A&M. Hear Coach Joseph talk about the career path that brought him to Port Neches-Groves on Down Trails of Victory podcast! (Photo credit unknown)
Jeff Joseph was honored as Coach of the Year in ceremonies at the Museum of the Gulf Coast. This picture shows him with legendary coach and Southeast Texas native Todd Dodge, who recommended Coach Joseph to be the Indians' 20th head football coach. Hear about Coach Joseph's journey to the Reservation, on Down Trails of Victory podcast! (photo by Emily Mire/Leo Weeks Photography)
The 2023 Indians began off season coming off a tough loss to South Oak Cliff in the 2022 state championship game. Hear Coach Joseph talk about that 2022 team, and its impact on the 2023 team, on Down Trails of Victory podcast! (And yes--all players including the linemen participated in morning off season workouts!)
Hear Coach Joseph talk about the spirit and support at PN-G, and about Indian pep rallies, right here on Down Trails of Victory podcast! (Photo by Kim Brent, Beaumont Enterprise)
The Indians had a workout on Thanksgiving Day--the day before they were to face #1 Lake Creek in the Regional Semifinals. Hear Coach Joseph talk about game preparation on Down Trails of Victory podcast! (Photo by Gilberto Moreno Flores, NDN Press)
Hear Coach Joseph talk about the character and attitude of PN-G athletes, and their contributions to success, on Down Trails of Victory podcast! (Photo by Gilberto Moreno Flores, NDN Press)
The Indians of 2023 hit the field with the intention to play full throttle for four quarters, and it paid off. Eleven fourth-quarter points secured the 20-17 victory and PN-G's first state title since 1975. Hear Coach Joseph talk about that state title game on Down Trails of Victory podcast! (Photo credit unknown)
The picture says it all--and it says, "VICTORY!" Hear Coach Joseph tell about the thrill of victory as the final gun sounded vs South Oak Cliff, on Down Trails of Victory podcast! (Photo Annabella Molina, Indian Press)
Coach Joseph is congratulated by PN-G principal Scott Ryan following the Indians' State Final win vs South Oak Cliff. Hear Coach Joseph talk about coaching at PN-G on Down Trails of Victory podcast! (Photo Tishy Photography)
The Monday following the game, a community parade and pep rally was held for the 2023 state champions. Hear Coach Joseph talk about that remarkable event on Down Trails of Victory podcast! (Photo credit unknown)
It was an incredible atmosphere at the community pep rally as accolades were doled out and received in a celebration of PN-G spirit. Hear Coach Joseph talk about that amazing affair, on Down Trails of Victory podcast! (Photo by Leo Weeks Photography)
The students, community, and fans heard from Coach Joseph at the post-season pep rally, and listeners can hear from Coach Joseph right here, right now, on Down Trails of Victory podcast! (Photo credit unknown)
Former players from PN-G's 1955 and 1975 state champion football teams were recognized at the community pep rally. Here is a picture of Coach Joseph, former head coach Matt Burnett (who led the Indians to the State Finals in 1999), and Matt's uncle Riley Burnett, a guard on the Indians' 1955 team. Hear Coach Joseph talk about that spectacular celebration of PN-G past and present, right here on Down Trails of Victory podcast! (Photo Dr. Buck Ford)
Ever wondered what the stats of a Texas 5A state football champion look like? Check it out...and hear Coach Joseph talk about that championship football team, right here on Down Trails of Victory podcast!
The mission of the Down Trails of Victory podcast is to seek out stories of Southeast Texas through the podcast medium, featuring schools and their associated personalities, alumni, eras, and traditions, for the purpose of providing a historical record to contribute to the heritage of Southeast Texas.
Down Trails of Victory, published in 1994, is a classic whose prose will forever be fresh. Currently in its second printing, its first printing sold out in six weeks!
Included in Down Trails of Victory are:
The games, the rivalries, the great victories, the heartbreaking defeats, the heroes, the opponents--they're all here. Discover how it was from the players and coaches themselves. Open the book, and take a fascinating journey with them--Down Trails of Victory!
$ 29.95 Down Trails of Victory--Soft Back
$ 49.95 Down Trails of Victory--Hard Back
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"Contact Us" when you purchase and Buck will sign the book with a personal note
Buck is a 1973 graduate of Port Neches-Groves High School. He has written two books pertaining to SE Texas history: On the Wings of Eagles: The Story of Stephen F. Austin Football 1979 - 1988, and Down Trails of Victory: The Story of Port Neches-Groves High School Football. Buck retired after 40 years in Texas Public Schools, as an English teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, and superintendent. He enjoys spending time with his wife Wanda Carole (Wrinkle), playing the piano, traveling, and researching genealogy.
Judge Brad Burnett is a 1973 graduate of Port Neches-Groves High School, His career includes previous positions as a real estate broker, and as a plant manager at US Intec. Judge Burnett has devoted his life to serving Southeast Texas. He served three terms on the PN-G ISD school board, before his election as Justice of the Peace of Jefferson County Pct. 7, a position he has held since 2002. Judge Burnett is active in many community organizations, and is in constant demand as a speaker for civic, school, and church groups. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Teresa (Lee), and has three "awesome" grandkids. From the book Down Trails of Victory, "(Brad) was a constant encourager throughout the years as I worked on the book. He believed in me and my dream, and his support gave me confidence in myself. He attended many of the panel interviews with former players, and we had a continual dialogue over the years about the status of the book. ...Thank you, Brad," page ix. --Dr. Jon Buck Ford
Wanda Carole Wrinkle Ford was born in Mamou, Louisiana, and lived in Southeast Texas for 40 years. She graduated from Lamar University in Beaumont as a Registered Nurse in 1990. She is multi-talented with a diverse background and range of experiences. In addition to being a song writer and award-winning photographer, she also served as publisher and editor of the best selling book Down Trails of Victory, without whose help the book never would have been written. Wanda Carole specializes in wildlife photography, enjoys traveling, gardening, helping her friends and family, genealogy, playing the piano, and undertaking new challenges.
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