New Braunfels Canyon wil name San Antonio Southwest coach Matt Elliott to replace Les Davis.

Elliott told his players Wednesday afternoon that he'd be leaving the program. Elliott will be recommended at a Jan. 28 school board meeting.

Elliott has coached at Springtown and Lake View before arriving at SA Southwest. Southwest is 30-6 in the last three years. They advanced three rounds into the '08 playoffs and the second round in '09 and '07.

He replaces Davis, who had a six-year tenure as the Cougars coach. Davis had an overal 40-25 record at Canyon as the Cougars reached the Class 4A Division II state quarterfinals in 2005 with a 12-2 record.

But Canyon was 13-18 in his final three years. The Cougars won four games in District 27-4A in 2008 and 2009.

Southwest's Elliott chosen as next CHS coach

By Chris Hoffman

The Herald-Zeitung

Published January 22, 2010

The Canyon Cougars have found their man.

After a long search of more than 130 applicants by Comal ISD athletic director Jim Rodrigue, San Antonio Southwest's Matt Elliott has been chosen as the next athletic director and football coach at Canyon.

Comal ISD superintendent Dr. Marc Walker will recommend Elliott for the positions at Canyon during the Jan. 28 school board meeting.

If approved by the board, Elliott would succeed former coach Les Davis, who was reassigned in December after six seasons at the helm

"I'm really excited and thankful for the opportunity to be the head coach at Canyon High School," Elliott said during a phone interview with the Herald-Zeitung. "We're going to take the process one day at a time of molding this football team into a winner. I just want to see this team get better with every practice and every game."

Rodrigue believes that Elliott is the right coach for the job.

"I believe Matt's coaching style will fit the needs of the student-athletes at Canyon High School," Rodrigue said. "He has worked with a variety of programs, students and staff, and I think he will be a great asset to our campus and program."

Elliott has served as Southwest's football coach for seven years, and has compiled a 57-22 record, including four district championships, and five playoff appearances, five playoff wins and no losing seasons.

The new Canyon skipper had a stint with Springtown from 2003-06.

"Based on Matt's history as a head football coach, I think we can expect that he will generate the maximum potential and talent from our players at Canyon," Rodrigue said.

Southwest went 10-1 overall and won the District 29-5A title with a 7-0 district record. The Dragons beat Rio Grande City 58-29 in the 5A bi-district game before dropping a 21-14 heartbreaker to Harlingen in the second round.

The tradition-laden Cougars is just what attracted Elliott to the Canyon job, and he hopes to add to the long history that celebrates it's 50th anniversary this year.

"Canyon has so much tradition and as a coach, you want to be around such tradition and add to the success they've had in the past," Elliott said. "And family-wise, it is a good move for me since we're got family in Austin and Comal ISD is a great school system for my children to grow up in."

When asked about what the Canyon football fans can expect when the Cougars take the field in the fall, Elliott said that he'll give the fans something to talk about.

"When the Cougar football fans leave the stands on a Friday night, I want them to not be disappointed in what they've seen on the field," he said. "We're going to be prepared. The team will fight hard in every game and play with class. That's what I expect from them."