Smithson Valley head coach Larry Hill is sitting on a truly wild 340 career wins, just three shy of Jim Streety’s all-time Greater San Antonio record of 343. This ain’t just about Hill though. This incredible 33-year run, a legacy that turned a struggling program into a Texas high school football powerhouse with two state championships, owes everything to two guys who almost bolted before it even began: offensive line coach Robert Teuton and defensive coordinator Craig Wersterfer. Seriously, talk about a sliding doors moment for a whole program.
The Shaky Beginnings That Forged a Dynasty
When Larry Hill rolled into Smithson Valley in May 1993, the program was in flux. Joe Matulich had resigned after the 1992 season, leaving the job dormant for nearly five months. Several coaches from Matulich’s seven-year stint were gone, and Hill had almost no time to build a staff. He inherited a few folks, hoping for the best, and among them were Teuton, who’d been Matulich’s offensive line coach for four seasons, and Wersterfer. The Rangers had gone a dismal 1-9 in 1992. Wersterfer, then a defensive backs coach, was not feeling secure. He was even out there looking for other gigs, trying to “create space” for Hill to bring in his own guys. He was so close to taking a job at Seguin. But then Hill and his wife Lori made a move, visiting Wersterfer and his wife Sheri, and convinced him to stay. Wersterfer bought into Hill’s vision, sensing a chance for something special. Meanwhile, Teuton, with four seasons already under his belt, just went to work, no questions asked. Those leaps of faith, man, they’re what built the foundation.
33 Years, Two State Titles, and a Shared Vision
Hill admitted he didn’t know anything about Wersterfer or Teuton’s on-field prowess back then. But he saw they shared his vision for the program, that “they seemed to be like-minded people who could get things done.” And done they got. For 33 years, this trio has been a rock-solid unit, elevating Smithson Valley from practically nothing to one of the state’s top football programs. We’re talking back-to-back Class 5A Division I state championships in 2024 and 2025, plus four other state finals appearances! Wersterfer has since been elevated to defensive coordinator, a testament to his impact. Teuton? He’s been the offensive line coach all along. Hill’s even joked about it, saying Teuton was coaching it before he got there and will probably still be coaching it after Hill’s gone. That’s loyalty and consistency you just don’t see often in sports.
Chasing History, Together
This incredible partnership has propelled Hill to the brink of history. His 340 career wins, including two seasons at Jourdanton, put him just three shy of Jim Streety’s Greater San Antonio record. Think about that for a second. Three wins. It’s a testament to sustained excellence. Hill himself admits he wouldn’t have believed it if you told him in ’93 that these three guys would still be together 33 years later. Nobody would have. But here they are, a true testament to shared vision, hard work, and maybe a little bit of luck that Hill and his wife stopped Wersterfer from leaving all those years ago. The record is within reach, and you know these three are going to chase it down together.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply