Scott Svendsen has returned home.

The former Katy High assistant was hired this week as the new head football coach and athletic coordinator at Morton Ranch High School.

"When I first came to Katy in 2000 and worked at Katy High School, it was like home, and the Katy area feels like home," Svendsen said. "I'm just very thankful to the Good Lord that I have this opportunity."

Svendsen, 44, spent the last two years as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at John Tyler. He served the same role in Alvarado in 2005, where former Katy assistant Jeff Dixon took over as head coach. The 22-year coaching veteran was the receivers coach for the Tigers from 2000-2004, during which time Katy won two state titles.

Previously a head coach in Nevada and the European Football League, Svendsen becomes the top dog at a Texas high school for the first time.

"That's an answered prayer," said Svendsen, who replaces Jim Shewmake as the Mavericks' head coach. "I grew up in South Dakota and all we did was play ball, but I always knew that Texas high school football was the best football in the country and I wanted to be a part of that."

Both Katy ISD executive director of athletics Rusty Dowling and Morton Ranch principal

Joe Cammarata said Svendsen separated himself in a field of 45 applicants and three finalists with his demeanor and work ethic.

"Certainly his enthusiasm and background stand out," Dowling said. "He's one of those coaches who works so very hard for years at being a top-line assistant coach and Scott has put in that quality time to get that first break. We are very, very pleased that he has returned to KISD.

"It's safe to say that we left no stones unturned when trying to find the best man for this job."

Svendsen's stature was helped by the endorsements from current Katy head coach Gary Joseph, former Tigers head coach Mike Johnston, and Dixon.

"They're getting a good coach who's a great people person," Joseph said. "He relates real well with the kids and I think he'll get along great with the faculty at Morton Ranch.

"The positive atmosphere he brings is going to help them quite a bit."

Johnston was thrilled that another of his assistants joined the head-coaching roster in KISD.

"He's an excellent coach and an outstanding man, and he's one of the very best men I've ever been around in coaching," Johnston said. "He's very enthusiastic, and has a love of life, kids and the game. He'll embrace everyone, so they should be thrilled to have him.

"He took a great deal of pride in everything he did when he was at Katy and he did it well. He'll do a great job and will get those kids fired up. They'll love him."

Dixon, who just completed his third year at Alvarado, echoed his former bosses' comments.

"They're getting a gold mine in Coach Svendsen," Dixon said. "There's not a better person I've ever worked with as in regards to dealing with young kids. He's a motivator, he's a hard worker, and he understands the Katy way.

"He's not into quick fixes and he's going to do it the right way, and in time they're going to turn that thing around because he'll bring enthusiasm, energy and work ethic."

Svendsen inherits a program entering its third varsity season. The Mavericks were 0-19 before ending the 2007 season with a 14-6 victory over Alief Taylor.

"There are a lot of things that appealed to me," Svendsen said. "There's a sense of family here and a sense of kids wanting to succeed. I was here last Thursday (Jan. 17) and it was cold as it was today, and as I watched the kids work out I didn't hear one complaint. Usually you hear something, but these kids were out there taking care of their business.

"That shows that these kids want to be successful and I feel like I can help that with that."

While tipping his hat to his old friends and new competitors just to the west, Svendsen has his eye on putting Morton Ranch on the map without comparisons to the Tigers.

"(Katy's) a very successful program and they're doing the right things, but we can't focus on Katy," Svendsen said. "We have to focus on ourselves and create our own identity, which is as Mavericks."

Svendsen plans to do that with energy, enthusiasm and good, old-fashioned hard work.

"Enthusiasm is nothing more than being positive," Svendsen said. "If you can build something positive, everybody wants to be a part of that. There are a lot of positives going on at this school and we want this football team to be one of the positives.

"I know it's a challenge and it's going to take some work, I know that, but it's a challenge where we're going to roll up our sleeves and go to work."

In regards to tactics, Svendsen is partial to running a Multiple-I on offense and a 50-front on defense.

"To me the Multiple-I is very flexible and plays to the strength of your team," Svendsen said. "You always have something to fall back on, which is running game. If you don't have a throwing quarterback, that gives you a base offense, but if we have a quarterback who can throw the ball a little bit and that's the strength of our team, then we can go to that without getting out of our philosophy."

While implementing his system, Svendsen also has the difficult decision of what members of Shewmake's staff he might retain. One assistant, Jeff Seeton, worked with Svendsen in Alvarado.

"My top priority is to get a good feel of things here," Svendsen said. "I'm going to sit and evaluate, and make wise decisions. I'm not going to make hasty decisions."

Svendsen and his wife, Krista, have two sons: Colton, 8, and Cale, 6. Krista has a brother and sister who live in the Houston area, and Scott's twin brother, Steve, lives in Magnolia.

"I'm so excited for him and his family," Dixon said. "It's about time somebody gave him a chance, and I know he'll be great for Morton Ranch High School and KISD."