Crosby A.D. quits in March for other offer

February 21, 2019 Star-Courier Front Page, Sports 0

Coach Jeff Riordan, second from left, pictured with Crosby Coaches in heyday 2014 after winning Regional Championship. From 1960, the Crosby Cougars went 13-2 that year. Jeff Riordan has Crosby’s most winning 66-18 record from the last seven years. Riordan oversaw much athletic equipment and athletic capital improvements, including 2 baseball and 2 softball fields of all artificial turf in an area known for raising grass. Crosby Stadium grew into “the Jungle” during his tenure, and a lighted real-time video scoreboard became a feature.
Coach Jeff Riordan, second from left, pictured with Crosby Coaches in heyday 2014 after winning Regional Championship. From 1960, the Crosby Cougars went 13-2 that year. Jeff Riordan has Crosby’s most winning 66-18 record from the last seven years. Riordan oversaw much athletic equipment and athletic capital improvements, including 2 baseball and 2 softball fields of all artificial turf in an area known for raising grass. Crosby Stadium grew into “the Jungle” during his tenure, and a lighted real-time video scoreboard became a feature.

CROSBY – It is no secret that the financial condition of Crosby ISD has cost the district some fine people and most knew that would happen when the laying off of over 100 teachers was announced.

The district had to layoff a bunch of coaches and cut the budget for athletics by 60% in 2018.

Riordan was known to have been upset in October of last year when it was announced that Michelle Trotter, later chosen to be Coach of the Year, was to be laid off in spite of her diligence with the Lady Cougar’s Basketball Team. She had been Social Studies Curriculum Coordinator and her last day was going to be Dec. 20. That was prior to the intercession of local parents.

Coach Jeff Riordan, Athletic Director and Head Coach of Crosby Football has indicated he will be leaving after Spring Break but that is unofficial and all await approval of the school board. He has indicated an offer came for an opportunity to return closer to where his extended family lives.

His record of six play offs, four district championships and reaching the Regional Semifinals in 2014 highlight his seven years in Crosby.

Rumors of salary excesses have proven false, in 2016 he was sixth among Greater Houston Area highest paid coaches pulling in about $118,000 and just $119,600 in 2017. That seems far below Coaches like Gary Joseph of Katy making about $136,374 or Tom Westeberg of Barbers Hill, but those places have money.