Hi, I'm Carolyn Branch, wife of Jimmy Branch, ex 6-man coach at Welch, Woodson, Newcastle and Groom. I saw a post on here from May, 2013, asking for a report on his death, but I wasn't able to access it today to post. Jimmy died of a massive stroke on April 22, 2013 after he had surgery placing 2 stents in the "widow maker" artery. The surgery was successful, but the stroke occurred two days later.
Jimmy left the six-man coaching world in 1991 when he accepted a job as high school principal and we moved to Brock (just west of Weatherford, TX). He worked at Brock for 11 years, retired at age 52 and stayed home for 1 school year. He then went to Weatherford ISD as a crisis counselor, later assistant principal at the Ninth Grade Center. The last full time position he held was as assistant principal and assistant girls' basketball coach at Poolville HS. The funny part of that job is that he assisted his daughter, Kimberly, who was the head coach. (Not many 6-man schools in our area. Darn it.) He fully retired in May, 2012.
I think everyone who knew him would describe him as a very unique man and a coach who thought outside the box. He created a six-man defense that was used by several other coaches in the 80's and 90's. I don't know if his defense is still used, but I do know that when he presented it at the 6-man coaching school, several coaches were pretty impressed with his thought process.
I would love to hear from any coaches who knew him, worked with him or coached against him. You don't even have to keep your replies nice. I know some who coached against him may still be bitter. LOL.
Jimmy left the six-man coaching world in 1991 when he accepted a job as high school principal and we moved to Brock (just west of Weatherford, TX). He worked at Brock for 11 years, retired at age 52 and stayed home for 1 school year. He then went to Weatherford ISD as a crisis counselor, later assistant principal at the Ninth Grade Center. The last full time position he held was as assistant principal and assistant girls' basketball coach at Poolville HS. The funny part of that job is that he assisted his daughter, Kimberly, who was the head coach. (Not many 6-man schools in our area. Darn it.) He fully retired in May, 2012.
I think everyone who knew him would describe him as a very unique man and a coach who thought outside the box. He created a six-man defense that was used by several other coaches in the 80's and 90's. I don't know if his defense is still used, but I do know that when he presented it at the 6-man coaching school, several coaches were pretty impressed with his thought process.
I would love to hear from any coaches who knew him, worked with him or coached against him. You don't even have to keep your replies nice. I know some who coached against him may still be bitter. LOL.
