Since 1993, Larry Hill has built Smithson Valley into a bona fide high school football juggernaut as evidenced by the Rangers' claim as back-to-back reigning state champions.
In doing so, Hill has reeled off wins in historic proportions. In Greater San Antonio, he's nearly at the top. Entering Friday's game at Manor, Hill sits at 342 career wins, which is one shy of Jim Streety, who led New Braunfels and Madison for 40 years before retiring from coaching in 2014.
"There's nobody that's had a greater impact on the Smithson Valley community than Larry Hill," said Brandon Parrott, the former athletic director at San Antonio Christian who was a receiver with the Rangers in 1993.
And yet, Hill almost never got there. After all, he wasn't even the school's first choice to replace Joe Matulich, who stepped down after the 1992 season. When his chosen successor backed out of the job, Hill was offered the position.
While it seemed like an easy decision, Hill was reluctant after meeting with the Comal ISD brass again.
"I had more questions than answers," Hill said. "I really didn't know if I wanted it, but it appeared as though I could get it. I did a little more research. It didn't look like a great job, but it was a job that I knew I could apparently get. Did I want to take a leap of faith?"
Smithson Valley head coach Larry Hill tallks to his players as they break practice Thursday, Aug. 23, 2007, at the school. (TOM REEL/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)Until that point, Smithson Valley had no history of success. Not even close. The Rangers had never made the playoffs or had a winning season since the program started in 1976. In 1992, Matulich's final season, the Rangers scored 100 points in going 1-9.
In addition, the school didn't have a principal nor a superintendent in place as he contemplated the offer. Hill was eager to re-enter the head coaching ranks. He spent two seasons at Jourdanton from 1989-90 where he went 10-11 with one playoff appearance.
He stepped down at Jourdanton after 1990 and became an assistant under Mike Robbins at Clark. Although it wasn't a head coaching position, it was chance to work with one of the city's top programs. After three years at Clark, Hill was ready to get back, but was Smithson Valley the right fit?
"I was apprehensive to say the least," Hill said. "I had applied because I wanted to be a head coach again."
Everything cleared up when Glenn Hill Sr. - his father who coached him at East Central - told him: "Take the job."
"I don't know how y'all's is, but if my dad says something, that's what we're doing," Hill said.
That's how it started, and "it's the best thing that's ever happened," Smithson Valley offensive line coach Robert Teuton said.
Teuton has the best perspective. He had served as the Rangers offensive line coach for four years when Hill was hired. Hill retained two others from the previous coaching regime, including Rangers defensive coordinator Craig Wersterfer. Teuton and Wersterfer have remained.
Smithson Valley coach Larry Hill, right, celebrates with defensive coordinator Craig Wersterfer at the conclusion of their Class 5A Division I state quarterfinal game with A&M Consolidated at Gupton Stadium in Cedar Park, TX, on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. Smithson Valley beat the Tigers 31-24. (Marvin Pfeiffer/Staff Photographer)Although Hill had no history of success, there was a sense of optimism when the players met the coach for the first time in the team room known as "The Dungeon."
"Everything changed overnight as far as discipline and commitment and what was expected of us," said Bobby Falkenberg, who was a junior offensive tackle in 1993.
On a chalk board, Hill listed the program's goals that included district and state championships - at Smithson Valley, which was a combined 43-121-6 in 17 seasons before his arrival.
"Coach Hill came in with a big plan, and from the moment he was there, he was talking about a state championship, and we're this small, podunk town," said David Mangan, a junior quarterback in 1993. "We're like ‘What the heck is going on here?' But, that was awesome. That was the plan he came up with, and we just all wanted to jump on board."
Hill and his coaches worked the hallways looking for potential players. Among them was Parrott, who had moved to the area from St. Louis several months before Hill's arrival. Parrott was a member of the Rangers basketball and tennis teams. During offseason basketball, Parrott was handed a pair of football cleats.
After reading "Friday Night Lights," Parrott never imagined he was Texas high school football material. Hill thought otherwise. Parrott ended up playing college football at Kansas.
"When Coach Hill came in, there was a new energy with coaches talking to players in the hallways and talking to athletes to get them being a part of changing the way things have always been at Smithson Valley," Parrott said.
On paper, not much changed during Hill's first season as the Rangers went 1-9. But the vibe was different.
Smithson Valley coach Larry Hill communicates with his son Bryan Hill the next play for the Rangers trying to score their first touchdown against Churchill Friday at Ranger Stadium. Tom Reel/Staff November 10, 2006. (TOM REEL/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)"The foundation was there, and even though we didn't win, everything felt right," Mangan said. "Everything he was trying to do you could tell he was going to be successful."
During the postseason football banquet, the expected returners were asked to stand up and be acknowledged. They were the future.
"We were meek in numbers and meek in stature, and we definitely weren't a group destined for greatness, but Coach Hill created it," Parrott said. "He absolutely built it from scratch."
The following season, it began falling into place. The Rangers went 8-3 - the program's first winning season - and qualified for the playoffs.
"We thought we could win even though there was no evidence in our school's history that we could," Hill said.
That was the first step to history. The Rangers have qualified for the playoffs in 30 of the last 32 years. They've won two state championships, qualified for four other finals and won 16 district titles.
And it all started in The Dungeon with an optimistic coach.
"To be on the tip of the spear is awesome," Falkenberg said. "To see it grow into many great years in between where we were then and now, it feels good to be a part of it."
SubscribeThere’s more to San Antonio with the Express-News. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at How Larry Hill's legendary coaching run at Smithson Valley nearly didn't happen.