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"We weren't expected to do anything that year, and for Connor (the team's quarterback) to have that
playoff drive he had was special. He finished the last 4½ games for us, and we weren't expected to
win any of those.
"That was special, plus getting to raise my kids from first grade
through 12th in the same school district is up there, also. Of course,
winning the state championship is on the list and seeing how it
changed the community and football team."
The honors have certainly come Heath's way over 20 years and de-
servedly so, though the humble Heath never hesitated redirecting any
attention on himself to his coaching staff, players, and administration.
In 2001, Heath was named "Coach of the Year" by the Houston Chronicle join-
ing Evans who was named "Player of the Year."
Coach Heath was named District 24-5A "Coach of the Year" in 2001, 2005,
2007, and 2010. He was District 22-5A "Coach of the Year" in 2008.
Heath was a Touchdown Club of Houston "Coach of the Year" finalist
in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, and 2010 before he
finally won the award in 2010 after Pearland won the state title.
Known for having a sense of humor, fellow coaches joked with
Heath about being Houston's area "Susan Lucci" of All My Chil-
dren who was nominated 18 times for a Daytime Emmy Award
before finally winning on her 19th nomination.
Heath could have easily won several years earlier, but he de-
servedly was selected in 2010. He shared the award ceremony
with Pearland running back Dustin Garrison who was named "Of-
fensive Player of the Year." Garrison was also named the Offensive
MVP of the state championship game and went on to star at West
Virginia.
The veteran coach also was named as the "National Coach of the
Year" by Vype Magazine, MaxPreps, and the American Football
Magazine.
The Oilers were named Class 5A Team of the Year by Dave Camp-
bell's Texas Football Magazine which is the bible for Texas
football.
At the present time, Pearland has two players currently play-
ing in the National Football League that Heath coached.
Punter Thomas Morstead (SMU) plays for the New Orleans
Saints and won a Super Bowl in 2009 while Fozzy Whittaker
(UT) plays for the Carolina Panthers and played in the Super
Bowl in Houston in 2016.
Heath also developed his own coaching tree just as he was
a branch off the tree of former La Marque head coach Alan
Weddell.
At present, there are six former assistant coaches that are now at the helm of their own high school
football programs and each would give credit to the influence that Heath has in their own lives.
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