Brock coach in his 50th year, hopes Eagles win state title with grandson on the field
Terry Brewster retired from coaching football in 2010, but when Brock High School was built and opened in 2011, it brought on a new opportunity.
Brock hired Brewster and 10 years later, he’s coaching his grandson as the Eagles are one win away from a state championship.
The Eagles (15-0) will play Lorena (13-2) at 3 p.m. Thursday at AT&T Stadium. It’s the program’s third trip to the state final and first since 2017.
Brock won in 2015 when Terry was on the staff.
His grandson, Zachary, was a ball boy.
“I get to watch him during the game. It’s a great honor and privilege to have coached my son and now my grandson,” Terry Brewster said.
Terry is an offensive line coach this season. Zachary is a junior and plays running back, receiver and defense.
“It’s an exciting time for him and his teammates to play at Jerry World,” Terry said. “That 2015 season was quite a ride as is this one.”
Halfway to a 100
This season marked Terry’s 50th as a high school football coach.
Brock honored him during a home game against Whitesboro in October.
“Brock is a very unusual place. There is so much support from the community and parents whatever the program is. It could be sports, band, choir and the community comes out to support these kids,” Brewster said.
Brewster graduated from Jacksboro, just about an hour northwest of Fort Worth, in 1966. He played offensive line at Texas A&M and finished his college career at Howard Payne.
Brewster tried out for the Cincinnati Bengals and made the team, but decided to stop playing and go into coaching. Brewster has had stints at 10 different high schools across Texas in 50 years including Anson, Ballinger, Big Spring, Waco Midway, Round Rock Westwood, La Grange, Port Lavaca, Lake Worth, Millsap and Brock.
He coached his son, Scott, while at La Grange.
The two of them coached together at Lake Worth.
“We get into coaching because we love the kids and love the sport, and all sports. If you don’t love it than you’re doing the wrong thing,” said Brewster, who at 4 told his grandmother he was going to be a football coach. “Helping to change so many lives, I’ll never know just how many lives I have touched. Sports are fun, but it’s not the most important thing in life.
“We teach about life lessons and for a lot of kids to come back and still call me coach every year, that means a whole lot to me.”
Brewster and his wife of 55 years, Bonnie, both retired in 2010 after Terry spent 15 seasons at Lake Worth.
The Eagles came calling and the couple moved to Brock.
“Brewster was an integral part of laying the foundation for Brock football and the success that continues today. He and Bonnie are a blessing to everyone they have coached with”, said former Brock coach Chad Worrell, now at El Campo.
Security blanket at Brock
Billy Mathis took over the program in the spring after leading Weatherford to the playoffs.
He also won state titles at Aledo so he knows about football in Parker County.
But when he got to Brock, Brewster was his security blanket.
“Coach Brewster showed me the ins and outs of Brock and how things were done and all their traditions. He’s the type of guy that when he talks, people listen and he’s been huge here in Brock,” Mathis said.
“He does a bit of everything,” Mathis added. “I didn’t know him personally, but I knew of him. He’s a great guy and coach who does a lot. He’ll coach the kids at the high school level, coach the middle school kids, watch film and drive the bus.”
Since 2014, Brock has won at least one playoff game every season. The Eagles have reached three title games and have separately reached the semifinals two other times.
“Terry Brewster is a legend in the Texas High School coaching ranks. No one person has had a more profound effect on high school athletes,” said friend and Aledo athletic director Steve Wood. “I would also say no one person has a more profound effect on Brock athletics. Brock is lucky to have him.”
This story was originally published December 15, 2021 at 4:02 PM.
