Selman told his coaching staff and met with his team Thursday morning, then addressed the media while being surrounded by his family, staff, and players during an emotional retirement press conference at Randall High School in the afternoon.
“You know when it’s time and now is the time,” Selman said. “I’ve had so much support from my family, the coaches, the administration and my players. It’s very humbling. I’ve been blessed during my coaching tenure. I’ve had great mentors that’s guided me throughout my career. I never thought I’d be the head coach at Randall and It has been an incredible journey. Randall is an unbelievable spot.”
The Palo Duro High School graduate has been at Randall for 23 seasons and has spent the past seven as the head football coach. During Selman’s tenure the Raiders went 42-42 making the postseason all seven years including six runs to the third round of the playoffs. For Selman, the decision is difficult but he’s looking forward to the next chapter.
“Coach Steve Ribera told me being a coach of the year is awesome,” Selman said. “But if you’re not father of the year or husband of the year something is wrong. That’s what I want to do. I want to go to be with my family because of all the sacrifices this job has entailed. I’m fortunate for the sacrifices my family has made. This has never felt like a job to me. I’ve never felt like I’ve had to go to work. Coaching football has been the best part of my life and it’s hard to leave. But I know God has a plan and he’ll take care of myself and my family.”
Canyon ISD Toby Tucker says the ole’ ball coach will leave big shoes to fill, but nobody did it better and in a more respectful way than Selman.
“Coach Selman is just a gentleman,” Tucker said. “When you go back to the day he was hired all you heard is what a gentleman Gaylon Selman was. You saw that at the press conference. He’s a family man and a tremendous football coach. He means the world to us. He always has tough team and they’ve always overcome adversity. Every year he gets those athletes going. We’re going to miss him.”
Tucker said he will open the Randall job and hopes to have Selman’s predecessor in place no later than the second week of June.