Jack Teachey is making his return to collegiate football.
After three years as Topsail High School’s football coach, Texas Tech announced Tuesday that Teachey is joining its staff as a senior defensive analyst.
“It was a blessing to be (at Topsail),” Teachey told the StarNews. “It might not have shown up exactly how we wanted on the scoreboard, but we were making a lot of progress … I was so lucky and so happy to be a part of the kids’ life.”
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The Pirates were 13-18 overall in three seasons under Teachey, who served in assistant roles with the program as far back as 2014. Prior to his time in Hampstead, Teachey spent 20 years at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, mainly coaching the school’s defensive line.
The 55-year-old says he’s had multiple collegiate offers in recent years but none, until Texas Tech reached out, seemed like the perfect fit.
“It was a very hard decision,” he said. “I’ve had some opportunities over the last four or five years, but from a family situation, it wasn’t the right timing. The timing is much better for my family (now).”
Teachey’s familiarity with the Texas Tech staff made the hiring process quicker than most might assume. He coached new Red Raiders defensive coordinator Shiel Wood and safeties coach Rob Greene when the duo were players at Wofford. Shiel later joined the Terriers coaching staff with Teachey.
With Teachey’s absence, Topsail becomes the third area school searching for a coach in its biggest sport. The veteran coach leaves as a cast of new faces have joined Topsail’s athletic makeup, signaling once again the start of a new era in Hampstead.
“The most exciting thing is just working with the coaches and kids like always … that will never change whether it’s high school or college football. That’s why I pull into the parking lot every day,” Teachey said.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Topsail High School football coach Jack Teachey hired at Texas Tech
