Ranger football coaches

Coach J.J. Eckert - Head Coach, QB's, Receivers

Eckert will begin his fourth season at Kilgore College as head coach. Eckert was the offensive coordinator for the Rangers from 2001-2004, before accepting a head coaching job with Garden City where his teams compiled a 13-8 record and appeared in the 2005 Dixie Rotary Bowl in St. George, Utah. As Kilgore’s offensive coordinator, Eckert was a part of Kilgore’s 2001 and 2004 SWJCFC’s championship teams. Thus far, he has complied a record at KC of 18-11, with one bowl appearance. He is married to wife, Amanda, and they have one daughter, Abby.

Russell Thompson - Defensive Coord. & Linebacker

Thompson is a native of Jacksonville, spent four years at KC from 2000-2003. Prior to KC, he spent the 2005-06 seasons at Garden City Community College as defensive line coach helping the Broncbusters reach the 2005 Dixie Rotatry Bowl. The 2004 season was spent at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas as the defensive line coach. During the 2000-2003 seasons at Kilgore, Coach Thompson coached the running backs. Thompson has also coached at Sulphur High School in Oklahoma, and East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma.

Willie Gooden - Offensive Line

Gooden, a native of Hempstead, begins his fourth season as a coach at KC. Prior to KC, he spent three seasons at N.E. State University in Tahlequah, Okla., as defensive line coach. In 2005, he graduated from NSU and became a grad. assistant defensive line coach. In 2006, Gooden took over the defensive line. He began his playing career at KC in 2000 and earned all-conference in 2000-01. He was also a part of the undefeated 2001 Ranger team.He is married to Tonya Norman Gooden.

Chris Smith - Running Backs & Recruiting Coordinator

Smith is entering his first year on the Ranger staff. Smith, a native of Charleston, Ark., attended Bacone College (Muskogee, Okla.) where he played four seasons.  He was a three-year starter on the defensive line and finished as the starting center for the 2006 team. From 2008-09, he spent two seasons at Blinn, coaching running backs & tight ends. He received a bachelor's degree in Sports Management from Bacone College. Smith is married to the former Melinda Stockalper.

Gary Wade - Special Teams

Wade is entering his third year as a Ranger assistant coach this year. He also serves as coach of the special teams. With Wade's lifelong love and knowledge of football, he will serve as a recruiter and assistant coach for the Rangers. Wade is an owner of the famous Boomtown BBQ located on Hwy. 259 in Kilgore, an internationally known barbecue joint.

Chris Jirgens - Offensive Line

Jirgens, in his first season at KC, is a native of Toronto, Kan., he played LB at Butler County where he earned a degree in Journalism. He also earned a bachelor’s in exercise psychology at Kansas State. From 1998-99, he was offensive line coach and recruiting coord. at Dodge City. He was offensive line coach at BCCC from 2000-05. In 2006, he was offensive line coach at N.W. Mississippi. In 2007, he was the co-offensive coordinator and asst. head coach at Garden City. From 2008-09, he was offensive line coach at Blinn College.

Adam Sipes - Defensive Backs

Sipes graduated from Beckville High School in 2001, where he was a four-year letterman, playing football, basketball, baseball and track. He was MVP of his district in football, selected as All East Texas MVP in 2001 and was a state qualifier in track. He is also a former Ranger football player, playing for the undefeated 2001 team coached by Jimmy Rieves. He played baseball for Panola College from 2002-03 and played football at West Texas A&M in 2004. Sipes has two kids, Taige and Axel.

Corey Valdetero - Equipment Manager

Corey is a 2003 graduate of Kilgore High School where he served as a student athletic trainer for two years. He also graduated from Kilgore College in 2009 with an Associate's Degree in Kinesiology. Corey has worked as a student trainer for six years at KC and currently serves as Equipment Manager. He was student trainer in 2004 for the SWJCFC Conference Championship team. He is also an avid Texas Longhorns football fan.