PEARLAND — In anticipation of the upcoming 2018-2019 school year, Pearland ISD athletic director Ben Pardo always schedules a meeting with all the head coaches for Dawson High School and Pearland High School. The luncheon/meeting serves as a time of fellowship and motivation for the coaches in preparation with athletics.

This year, Pardo invited well-know Houston sports personality Spencer Tillman who delivered a very inspiring message to the coaches. Tillman was a former All-American running back at Oklahoma where he won a national championship and then went on to become a Super Bowl champion with the San Francisco 49ers.

As part of the event -- a special presentation was made by the PISD athletic department to former Pearland head coach Tony Heath and former Dawson head coach Eric Wells.

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Former Dawson Eagles head coach Eric Wells

Heath, who retired from coaching after the 2016 season, is still involved with high school coaches as he is with Hellas Construction Company who provides various athletic surfaces from high schools to the NFL. Hellas controls the entire supply chain from the design, construction, manufacturing, and installation of sports surfaces, including after the sale services for all facilities and clients. Heath has experienced great success with this new venture.

Wells has been at Pearland for over 20 years, first, as the Offensive Coordinator for the Oilers when Heath became head coach in 1997, and then Wells was given the reins of the new Dawson High School football program and continued the winning tradition with the Eagles until his recent retirement from Dawson to become the Assistant Athletic Director at Pearland ISD.

Heath is the winningest coach in Pearland history with a 195-53 mark and Wells finished with an 89-36 record. Pearland appeared in the Class 5A Div. I state semifinals in 2001 and 2006 before capturing the 2010 Class 5A Div. I state championship. The Oilers also were in the Class 5A Div. I state finals in 2013. Dawson has appeared in two Class 4A Div. I state semifinals in their young history in 2009 and 2011.

Heath and Wells were both presented with a framed poster of their successful career that will be permantly placed in the press box at The Rig for all to see and appreciate memorializing the impact they had in placing Pearland on the football map in Texas.

There is great confidence that new Pearland head coach Ricky Tullos and new Dawson head coach Mike Allison will continue the winning tradition that has been established at Pearland ISD.