The start of high school football fall practice is a little more than five months away.

That may seem like forever for some football fans, but the countdown has many La Marque fans worried. After all, the five-time state championship program is still without a head coach and athletic director.

Chris Jones' resignation after just one season has left the program in limbo while La Marque Superintendent Ecomet Burley directs a new search.

The initial deadline to apply for the job was Monday. Last week however, the deadline for applying on the La Marque Independent School District Web site was changed to "Until Filled." That could signal a lack of candidates who have applied for the position.

Burley told me at a Feb. 23 basketball game that he hoped to have a new AD and coach in place by the end of March. Under that timeline, candidates could be coming in for interviews as soon as next week.

Burley likely has in his mind what he wants in the next athletic director and head football coach. But what do the La Marque fans want from the second coaching search in 13 months?

To get the pulse of Coog Nation, I turned to the unofficial president — Mike Lockwood.

Lockwood, a member of the first senior class at La Marque in 1971, joined Coog Sports Net in 1996 to broadcast football games on a local cable channel and has kept the venture alive by paying expenses out of his pocket.

Under Lockwood's direction, Coog Sports Net has expanded to broadcast games live over the Internet on the Web site coogsports.net. The site also features a message board for La Marque fans, as well as links to YouTube highlight clips of past Cougar games.

There's a reason that younger members of Coog Nation call Lockwood "Grandpa Coog" — he's a leader for one of the most passionate high school fan bases in Texas.

Before looking at what fans want this season, I thought it important to understand where Coog Nation thought things went wrong in last year's coaching search.

Following Bryan Erwin's resignation after a five-year tenure at La Marque, Burley named a hiring committee to narrow down the candidate list to five who came in for interviews. That list was further narrowed down to two candidates — Jones and Lamar Consolidated coach Lydell Wilson.

The two remaining candidates appeared before a public forum, where they gave presentations and answered questions from the committee and the La Marque community.

I was hesitant of the forum at first, but thought it was a good idea after I watched it first-hand. However, Lockwood said the hiring process started to go wrong that night, and he hopes the same mistake is not made again.

"I don't think there should be a forum this year," Lockwood said. "To be honest, I think both candidates were judged unfairly because of the forum. I think there was too much grandstanding and some of us were spellbound by a PowerPoint presentation."

It still seemed like a close race for the job between the two candidates after the forum. But a late push by some of the La Marque players in favor of Jones may have affected Jones' decision.

Lockwood said he thought the players shouldn't be in any position of power for such an important decision.

"I can assure you one thing," Lockwood said, "I don't think Burley will allow the kids to have a say this time."

Lockwood said he likes Jones as a person, but didn't think he was a good fit for the Cougar fan base.

"I think Jones was too laid back for La Marque," Lockwood said. "Everyone is different in coaching style, but I don't think he realized he needed to be more than a head coach. I think that's why it didn't work for him here."

Members of Coog Nation were creating their wish list for the next head coach as soon as Jones announced he was resigning.

Most had former Cougar coach Alan Weddell atop their lists. But Lockwood said Weddell is telling everyone his is retired and doesn't plan a return to coaching in the near future.

The lists didn't stop with Weddell, however. Lockwood said talking to La Marque alumni and reading the message boards, one thing became apparent.

"I'm sensing more and more that Coog Nation is wanting one of the ex-assistant coaches or a former player," Lockwood said. "They want someone who knows what the kids are about and someone with experience with the La Marque program."

One of the more popular names on the messages boards has been former defensive coordinator Chuck Vincent who helped win a championship in 2006. Vincent was only with the La Marque program for one year, but Cougar fans loved his passion on the sidelines and the way he related to the players on that squad.

But don't look for Vincent to be patrolling the sidelines at Etheredge Stadium next season. He told me last week that he applied for the job last year, so he didn't feel the need to send his information back to La Marque school district.

Instead, he wants Burley to contact him.

"I'd love to have the job," Vincent said via phone. "If they are interested in me for that position, they know where to find me."

I don't know Burley that well, but I would be stunned if he picks up the phone and asks Vincent to come back to La Marque. Lockwood also admits that possibilities of Vincent returning under those circumstances are slim and none.

But just because Vincent is probably out of the picture, doesn't mean there won't be any candidates with experience in the La Marque program. Former Cougar receiver Jonathan Cooper, who won three state championships, told me on Sunday that he has applied for the La Marque opening.

"I would like the opportunity as someone from the community and someone who knows these kids," Cooper said. "They need someone to relate to. Someone that will be there for the long haul, not to build up a résumé."

Cooper is currently the receivers coach at Ball High, where he's been the last four seasons.

Giving Cooper an opportunity as the "Head Cougah" would be just fine with Lockwood and other members of Coog Nation.

"I know Jonathan's heart is at La Marque," Lockwood said. "I'd like the idea of having someone like him running the program."

But even Cooper is the first to admit his lack of experience could hurt him in the process. He's only five years removed from college and has yet to be a coordinator, one of the prerequisites for the position.

Lockwood said if Cooper doesn't get the job, he'd still like the new coach to bring the La Marque grad in as an assistant.

I'd expect Cooper to be a finalist for the position because of his ties to the program. But he could receive stiff competition for the job from another member of the Ball High coaching staff.

Former Santa Fe athletic director and head coach and current Ball High assistant Joe Krauskopf confirmed that he applied for the La Marque job Friday.

"I think it is a great situation," Krauskopf said. "There is a great chance to win over there."

Krauskopf was head football coach and athletic director at Santa Fe from 1998-2007. In his eight seasons as coach, he complied a 38-53-2 record and led the Indians to their first two playoff appearances in 2002 and 2005. He served as the Ball offensive line coach last season.

Lockwood said Krauskopf would be a good candidate based on his success at Santa Fe and his reputation as a hard-nosed coach.

"More than anything, La Marque kids need a disciplinarian," Lockwood said. "They need a father figure and (to be) very strict with the kids. You ask a lot of the former players, and they'll talk about the discipline that Weddell and (Larry) Walker and Erwin instilled. The program needs someone that they can respect like their father."

Krauskopf said his style of discipline would be a good fit at La Marque.

"I'm a people person," Krauskopf said. "The kids respond well to me and my style. My players are always disciplined on the field and in the classroom."

Both Cooper and Krauskopf emphasized the need for academics to come before football if they were chosen the next La Marque coach. Education is Burley's top priority, so he should be pleased to hear that platform from both candidates.

However, those are just two candidates from what Burley was hoping would be a pool of more than 40 names. It remains to be seen if the list of applicants tops last year's number.

No matter how many coaches apply for the position, Lockwood said the pressure is definitely on Burley to make a good decision — especially after passing on Wilson, who went on to win a state championship with Lamar Consolidated in 2007.

"I think he'll be a little more focused on what's best for La Marque High," Lockwood said. "He can't let the kids and public get involved and be Mr. Popularity. He needs to look at what is present to him and make a decision based on that information."

The clock is ticking, and Coog Nation anxiously awaits the final decision one of the most important jobs in the La Marque community.