ENNIS, Texas — Legendary Texas high school football coach Sam Harrell will retire from his head coaching position at Ennis High School due to health complications, according to Ennis ISD.
Coach Harrell has been with the Ennis Lions for 23 seasons starting in 1994. Harrell led the Lions to win three state championships in 2000, 2001 and 2004.
But not all battles were fought on the field. Harrell left the school in 2009 after developing multiple sclerosis (MS). In 2018, Coach Harrell returned to his head coaching duties after undergoing experimental stem cell treatments.
Now, due to the recurrence of Harrell's MS, he'll retire from the sideline once again.
"In every coach's life, there comes a time to turn in the whistle and pass the baton. Well for me that time has surprisingly happened twice, both times while at Ennis HS and both times because of MS," Harrell said in a statement. "If I could, I would coach another five or ten years, but it's time for me to turn these good kids over to someone who is healthier. I never wanted to do anything but coach, so these 40-plus years of coaching have been so very special to me."
Harrell retires as a three-time champion, a THSCA Hall of Honor member and a Texas High School Football Hall of Famer. With two games remaining this regular season, Harrell has coached Ennis to 239 career wins.
We intend to celebrate Coach Sam Harrell during pregame this coming Friday night," Ennis Athletic Director Don Drake said. "We invite all those who would like to express their gratitude to Coach to come to the ballgame on Friday as we join together in thanking Coach for all that he has meant to Ennis!"
