Ron DuPree, a veteran coach with his roots in Texas, is the newhead football coach at West Lincoln. A football tactician andphysical fitness expert, he has authored several books during his30 years of coaching.

DuPree, 57, replaces Willie Brumfield who coached the Bears forone season. Brumfield directed the Bears to a 1-10 record andelected to take a coaching position at Oak Grove Middle School nearHattiesburg. Brumfield resigned in June and plans to pursue amaster’s degree in administration at the University of SouthernMississippi.

DuPree is the fifth head coach in West Lincoln’s fledgling,6-year-old program. The Bears ended a 24-game losing streak lastseason by defeating Salem in a Region 4-1A contest.

“I think Coach DuPree has an approach to football which willtake us to a higher level,” said West Lincoln principal Jason Case.”He is the type of fellow who will build character in young men.His focus is on football and life.”

With experience on the senior college, junior college and highschool level as a head coach, DuPree said he is excited about hisnew job. “I have always wanted to coach in a small communityschool. West Lincoln is just what I’m looking for.”

DuPree, a native of Orange, Texas, comes to West Lincoln fromDallas-Skyline, a Class 5A high school with an enrollment of 4,300students.

“It got to a point in my career where I wanted to coach in asmall-town atmosphere,” said DuPree. “If the Good Lord wills me tohave good health, I will be at West Lincoln a long time.”

On the college level, DuPree has had head coaching positions atHighland (Kan.), Montana State and Kansas Wesleyan, an NAIA school.He also coached at the University South Dakota andKansas-Emporia.

DuPree has authored two books, The Total EffortConcept, a manual on athletic training; and TheSplit-Eagle Concept, regarding football techniques.

“We believe in running the football,” said DuPree. “The coachesand players must start learning the right technique in juniorhigh.”

Preseason practice begins Monday, Aug. 4, and DuPree plans tomeet with his players several times this week to discuss plans forthe fall campaign.

When the former Soviet Union and East Germany were dominatingthe Olympics, DuPree traveled to Russia to learn their trainingtechniques. He prefers using agility drills and weightliftingroutines that emphasize speed and explosiveness.

“We’ve had good success,” said DuPree. “Montana State had 10straight losing seasons. We were conference champions the firstyear,” after his arrival on campus.

Talking about football, DuPree said basic blocking schemes canbe learned in the seventh grade and carried over to the varsity asthe individual player advances in school. “They’ll be doing thesame thing when they’re seniors. It’s repeat, repeat, repeat.”

DuPree said Brumfield had laid a good foundation at WestLincoln. “I think Coach Brumfield had them going in the rightdirection.”

Since his arrival on campus, DuPree has had the opportunity tomeet several of the parents and players. “I’ve met some of theplayers and they seem to be good young men. I’ll do everything Ican to fit in at West Lincoln. This is a great quality oflife.”

A history buff and military strategist, he will teach WorldHistory at West Lincoln.

DuPree was a quarterback on the All-Army Team during his time inthe military. A Vietnam War veteran, he was awarded the PurpleHeart.

He has a 27-year-old son, Tyler, who is a graduate student atthe University of Houston.