Ables excited in new role as defensive coordinator
El Dorado changed defensive coordinators this season but, other than that, the base defense won't look that much different. Trey Outlaw, last year's coordinator, took the head coaching job at Texarkana. Hampton native Wes Ables, who was defensive coordinator at Magnolia for the past three seasons, joined the Wildcats' program in the spring.
“I think it speaks highly of our program that one of our coordinators was selected for a really good job as far as Arkansas high school football goes," said El Dorado head coach Steven Jones. "I'm excited for Coach Outlaw. He did a great job for us here. The defense really came along, specifically in the last season in the playoffs down the stretch, really put everything together. We appreciate his work here and wish him the best.
"Transitioning to Coach Ables, he's just a natural fit. His family was already here in El Dorado. He was commuting to Magnolia. He already had his family, his kids in this district. He was driving back and forth to Magnolia to work. That made the transition very smooth for him. The thing I saw from it was we have an outstanding football mind defensively in our back yard, who's been a head coach, who's coached in a state championship and who has great experience. He brings a lot of toughness and excitement to our defense. Just watching the drills and things so far, the kids are showing a lot of discipline of being in the right place. I'm just grateful to be able to bring him on board.”
Ables played fullback and linebacker at Hampton, where he graduated in 2003. He played linebacker at UA-Monticello, where he graduated in 2007. Ables was head coach at Hampton for six seasons, leading the Bulldogs to the state championship game in 2016.
"Me and my family, we've been living here for the last five years. We've been part of the community," Ables said. "My kids have been going to school here for the last five years. I'm excited to be here, looking forward to working with Coach Jones and the rest of the staff. They've got a really good coaching staff here, kids that work hard, real respectful kids. I'm looking forward to the challenge and opportunity."
Ables has a son on the Wildcats' freshman team and a daughter who is starting kindergarten.
El Dorado's defense will stay in the base 3-4 alignment from last year.
"I left that completely up to him," Jones said. "He came in here in the spring and saw what we had and decided to continue that. That's something he's very familiar with as far as coaching it. He's been a 3-4 defensive coordinator. Obviously, there's some confidence there with that. Defensively with the coordinator, I cut him loose and let him coach."
Ables also felt it was important to keep some continuity for the players and the coaches.
"I ran the 3-4 for a few years as a coach. Throughout the years, you kind of dibble and dabble and run a variety of things," he said. "It's a versatile defense, you're able to get more athletic bodies on the field, especially if you don't have a lot of big defensive linemen. We have a few linemen that fit the scheme and it fits our kids. You can get more speed on the field. You can adapt to different offenses you may see and the different formations a lot easier than being in an even front. And I thought coming in late, it was easier for me to come in and learn some of the terminology that was already used versus trying to teach all the coaches and players my terminology. Obviously, we've learned some things. I've brought in a few ideas and we have changed some things from last year. But, overall, a lot of things were kepth the same."