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Southern Methodist is looking for a new football coach after June Jones resigned abruptly.
Texas A&M wide receivers coach David Beaty, also the program’s recruiting coordinator, is “very interested” in the vacancy, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Source tells me talked w/ #Clemson OC Chad Morris and A&M's David Beaty; both "very interested" in the SMU vacancy, have local ties. #GigEm
— Corbett Smith (@corbettsmithDMN) September 10, 2014
The Swagcopter, a renovated Kyle Field and the SEC all are nice selling points, but Beaty is coach Kevin Sumlin’s ace recruiter. Since Beaty arrived in College Station in 2012, the Aggies have ranked No. 14, No. 8 and No. 6 in recruiting, according to 247 Sports.
If SMU does call David Beaty, he’d be a great fit there. Few are as well-respected by DFW-area HS coaches as he is.
— Sam Khan Jr. (@skhanjr) September 10, 2014
@skhanjr And one of the real keys to Texas A&M raking in the kind of talent the Aggies have on the recruiting trail.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) September 10, 2014
Beaty may be the most prominent recruiter in the Dallas-Forth Worth area, while Jones’ lack of interest and effort in local high school football was “almost comical among my tight circle of coaching friends,” a Morning News report said.
More from that story:
With unanimity, high school coaches who spoke with The Morning News said SMU could be “gold mine” for a coach who recruited the area well. (Hurst L.D. Bell coach Mark) Smith, Arlington Martin’s Bob Wager and Jesuit’s Brandon Hickman all pointed to Texas A&M wide receivers coach David Beaty, a former North Dallas and Irving MacArthur head coach, as a potentially great fit. Beaty is considered one of the nation’s best recruiters.
“I think Beaty would be a grand slam for SMU,” Smith said.
“My hope for the future of SMU is that they sink their teeth into recruiting the Dallas-Fort Worth area,” Wager said. “I firmly feel that within a 50-mile radius of Martin is the best high school football in the country.”
Athlon Sports also mentioned Beaty, along with A&M offensive coordinator Jake Spavital, in its list of six names to watch in connection with the SMU opening.
SMU defensive coordinator Tom Mason is serving as interim coach for the Mustangs, who played in four consecutive bowl games under Jones before putting together a 5-7 season in 2013.
It’s unclear whether Texas A&M would grant SMU permission to talk to either Spavital or Beaty mid-season, though programs rarely block a position coach from pursuing a head coaching opportunity.
FootballScoop.com, one of the most respected websites for coaching news, predicted SMU will hire Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris well before the 2014 season ends, but also mentioned Spavital as a potential candidate.
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
