Jeff Dicus, a specialist at rebuilding high school football programs, is leaving Class 4A Division II state champion Lake Travis to become the Duncanville coach.

The announcement was made Monday afternoon.

Dicus, who turns 48 today, said Duncanville's strong athletic program, administration and facilities excite him; so did his first look at the players.

"I could see it in them," said Dicus, who met the players during one of his interviews. "They definitely have what it takes to get to the next level."

In three head coaching stops over 10 seasons, Dicus has a 75-37 record. He went 45-15 at Lake Travis, a program that won one game in two seasons before his arrival.

Dicus was head coach for three seasons at Boerne and two at Mission and helped each school reach the playoffs.

Austin American-Statesman

In three head coaching stops over 10 seasons, new Duncanville football coach Jeff Dicus has a 75-37 record.

Duncanville ISD superintendent Dr. Alfred Ray said Dicus' approach to training young men is in line with the district's focus on character building and academic achievement.

Dicus, a South Dakota graduate who moved to Texas in 1983, is known for producing prolific passers in his spread offense. Garrett Gilbert passed for over 5,000 yards last fall and is one of the state's top recruits in the Class of 2009. Todd Reesing, who led Kansas to victory in this year's Orange Bowl, is another Dicus protégé.

"The footballs will be flying," Dicus said. "Our philosophy is to let the athletes be athletes.

"But it won't happen overnight. The kids will have to make a decision. Do they want to be a champion?"

Dicus replaces Dan Schreiber, who was reassigned in November following a 3-7 season. It was the third year in a row Duncanville missed the playoffs.

In nine seasons prior (1996-2004), Duncanville made the playoffs every year, wining a state title in 1998.