Mineral Wells Area News

By DAVID MAY

Special to Mineral Wells Area News

Community Christian School athletics director and boys basketball head coach Brian Rodricks is just 14 victories shy of his 600th career win.

When the 57-year-old coach reaches that lofty milestone, it won’t be at CCS.

The small Mineral Wells private Christian school made a financial decision not to retain Rodricks after this school year. The decision comes two months after he delivered for CCS a Texas Christian Athletics Fellowship Division II boys basketball state championship.

“It was definitely a surprise,” said Rodricks. “I always got along great with the board and the administration. It was a tough decision. Enrollment and the way the economy is right now, people can’t afford to put their kids through a private school.”

The Warriors’ state title was Rodricks’ third overall. He won back-to-back TCAF Division I state championships in 2014-15 and 2015-16 while leading the Nazarene Christian Academy Lions.

He has coached and taught in the private school ranks for more than a quarter of a century and has tallied 586 wins. He notched his 500^th win in January 2021 when the Warriors defeated Highlands.

His win-loss record at CCS is 117-45.

“We’ve had a little bit of success,” he modestly said.

CCS hired Rodricks in the spring of 2019, less than a year before the onset of the pandemic. He resurrected the school’s football program, which has made post-season runs the last three seasons including a 10-win 2022 campaign.

This past football season was a particular challenge for Rodricks after the team had to abandon its home field because of poor field conditions caused by last summer’s drought and heat. The team moved its home games to Weatherford Christian and Trinity Christian. Still, the Warriors overcame and made the TCAF playoffs.

The CCS Lady Warriors’ 2020-21 girls hoops team won a TCAF state title with a 25-2 season record. Rodricks brought baseball back to the school and he oversees the track and field squads.

Under Rodricks, the Warriors have put together five consecutive 20-plus win seasons.

“It’s been a great run, with some great kids and great support from the community and families,” he said. “A lot of good relationships.”

Community Christian School Administrator Doug Jefferson acknowledged Rodricks’ departure as the result of tighter financial times at the school, much different than when the school was able to hire him five years ago. Rising costs of living in recent years have impacted family budgets and CCS enrollment, Jefferson said.

“We are very thankful for the time we had with Coach Rodricks,” Jefferson said. “He is a very good coach, an amazing coach. He did a great job with the kids. We are a very small school. We stepped out on faith when we hired him.”

Jefferson, who coached the boys’ basketball team prior to Rodricks’ arrival, said he and school leadership will be praying and leaning on God to guide them through this next phase of the school’s chapter.

“No plans have been made at the moment,” said Jefferson. “We are asking God. We wish Coach Rodricks the best. We are friends. This is just where we are as a school.”

Rodricks said he still has plenty of gas in the tank and is actively seeking his next coaching destination.

“I’ve been in athletics for 27 or 28 years and I have a lot of contacts,” he said. “I believe in God and that when one door closes, a bigger one opens.”

Rodricks said he has talked with the coaches at CCS, including his basketball assistants, and encouraged their return in the fall to ensure the continuation of the success and progress made in recent years. He said he wishes the best for CCS going forward.

“It’s an unfortunate situation,” he said. “It’s not a bad break. We are ending on good terms. I pray for the school. I hope it all works out. It’s a great place to be. I encourage people in Mineral Wells and the surrounding area to take your kid to CCS.”