Jasper baseball coaches
The men behind the Bulldogs
By GEORGIA PURDY Newsboy Correspondent

Newsboy file photo JASPER ASSISTANT COACH STEVE SMITH hugs Jasper Head Baseball Coach Shawn Mixon following Jasper's Region III victory over Bridge City.

Behind every successful team is a group of dedicated people whose job it is to teach, to motivate, nurture, inspire, and empower athletes to realize and develop their potential. And most of all, to lead by example.

The Jasper Bulldogs are fortunate to have a team of leaders whose passion for the sport inspires excellence and whose abilities are first class.

Head Coach Shawn Mixon

Shawn Mixon starts his 13th year in coaching, his eleventh as a head coach and his sixth year at Jasper High School.

He is a 1990 Jasper High School graduate and a 1995 graduate of Stephen F. Austin University.

Prior to coaching at Jasper, Mixon coached at Woodville for seven years. In eleven years as a head coach, his teams have made the playoffs nine times, won five district championships and last year's Class 3A state championship. Shawn and his wife Jennifer have two children, Shelby nine, and Emily, five.

Assistant Coach David Ford

This is Ford's third year at Jasper High School. He graduated from Prairiland High School in 1998 and received is B.S. in history from Stephen F. Austin University. Ford coaches the catchers and assists with sub-varsity teams. He was recently engaged to be married to his girlfriend Ashley Rutland of Groves.

Assistant Coach Joey Brown

Brown grew up in Colmesneil where he graduated in 1996. He is a graduate of Lamar University and began his coaching career at Kountze High School before coming to Jasper last year. He is in his fifth year of coaching. He is the Junior Varsity coach and works with varsity outfielders. He and his wife Kimberly have two daughters, ages four and three, and have a son due in March.

Assistant Coach Steve Smith

Smith graduated from Jasper High School in 1975, attended Angelina Junior College and completed his certification in trade and industry at Sam Houston State University. He has taught at Jasper High School for 15 years and has been coaching 14 of those. He is married to the former Susan Smith. They have two sons, Sam and Shea.

He calls the pitches, is the infield coach and says he keeps Coach Mixon from having a stroke. He actually has 31 years of experience because he started working with youth baseball when he was 20.

He loves baseball but more importantly, his genuine interest in the young men he coaches is evident.

"The greatest satisfaction for me," he said, " is seeing what these kids are when they are 25."