Somerset keeps job in Detmer family tree
The family ties were too strong to deny.
That’s what led Koy Detmer back to Somerset where on Monday night the school board approved him to be the next Bulldogs’ head football coach, succeeding his late father Sonny Detmer, considered one of the state’s forefathers of the wideopen passing attack.
Detmer coached under his father at Somerset for six seasons before accepting the head coaching job at Mission, his alma mater, in 2016.
Koal Detmer, Koy’s son, was Somerset’s starting quarterback this past season and he’ll get to play for his father as a senior.
“We’ve certainly enjoyed our time down here in Mission,” Detmer said. “Mission has been a real important place, going to high school here and getting my first head-coaching job down here, but to have the opportunity to go back to Somerset and be there with Koal and where Sonny was. It’s a family atmosphere. That’s a special place for us as well, and we’re excited to
get back up there.”
Somerset ISD athletic director Keith Higginbotham happily welcomed back Detmer.
“When you have a guy with a great pedigree like he has coming back, the passion he has for the game is phenomenal,” Higginbotham said. “We're excited to have Koy back here at Bulldog nation.”
In five seasons at Mission, Detmer compiled a 30-19 record, including a 5-2 mark this season that was shortened because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Detmer this season led the Eagles to their first playoff victory since 2009. Laredo United South ended Mission's run in the second round.
“We put in a lot of effort into building things up down here,” Detmer said. “We've been in it with our heart and soul, and when you're in it like that, it's tough to leave a place. It's been a great experience down here with the kids and community. People have been awesome.”
Sonny Detmer died on Sept. 22 at age 76 two games into Somerset's season. Sonny had been hospitalized with pneumonia and bronchitis in the weeks before his death. Because of his health, Sonny didn't get a chance to coach his team in 2020. Assistant coach Rick Molina filled in that role.
Sonny compiled a 235-141-2 in a
35-year coaching career that also included a stint at Southwest where he coached his son, Ty, who won the Heisman Trophy at BYU in 1990 and played 14 seasons in the NFL.
“There was a lot (at Somerset) really having to do with family in general, and certainly Sonny was a big part of that,” Detmer said. “Him passing changed some circumstances up there with our family and the dynamics and that's what kind of had a big impact on it.”
Koy Detmer played for his father at Mission where they showcased an innovative passing attack. The Eagles advanced to the
state semifinals in 1990, a season in which they were 12-2 and Detmer passed for 3,685 yards.
When he left for Colorado where he played in college before forging a 10-year NFL career, Detmer finished as the Valley's all-time passing leader with 8,221 yards and 82 touchdowns.
“It was a tremendous foundation for me,” Detmer said of playing for his father. “His offensive system, which is what we use now still today, was ahead of its time. Having hot routes and different things like that and the way you read defenses, it really prepared myself for going on into college and the pro level, and you know, I
think Ty will tell you the same thing. Getting a chance to learn and grow and play for our dad was a big deal. … Now I have an opportunity to do that with Koal.”
Detmer won't be a stranger to most of his players at Somerset. He coached many of them when he was their elementary school PE teacher.
“This group of kids that are coming through right now are kids I had in elementary,” Detmer said. “I raised them as puppies back then, so now we're here meeting up again.”