Aaron Slider,
Mineola head football coach

“There is a carry-over effect to physicality,” explained first-year Mineola head football coach Aaron Slider. It is this very effect which explains Slider’s faith in running the football.

Slider described how class 3A is yet a level of competition in which many players will see time on offense, defense and special teams. Setting the proper mentality is absolutely vital to playing aggressive football (in all phases of the game) – and winning. 

The physical mentality is best instilled, throughout the team, by running the ball, Slider said. 

Yellowjacket fans will surely recognize much of this years’ team, as Slider has fleeted up from offensive coordinator to take the head coaching reins. He will retain the play-calling this season. 

The foundation of Yellowjacket football will remain mental and physical toughness. Much of what was instilled under previous head coach – and present athletic director – Luke Blackwell will be retained and sharpened under Slider. 

In fact, as offensive coordinator for the past four seasons, Slider had a big hand in developing many of the trademarks of recent Yellowjacket football.  

“Our offense is founded on a series of base schemes,” he explained, “…we then work to out-leverage or out-man the defense at the point of attack.

 This is accomplished through a variety of means – formation, motion, influence blocking, fakes. 

From the base schemes, then, a variety of options are drawn off of the scheme, like branches off a tree.

The system has some distinct advantages. Foremost among them is that it allows the offensive line to become exceptionally well-practiced in the intricacies of each base scheme.   

“That is one of our strengths,” stated Slider. He offered the attention-to-detail nurtured by offensive line coach Thad Black as an example of how this pays dividends. “The players all know that they are being placed in the absolute best position to succeed,” Slider noted. 

A product of the small northeastern Texas community of Maud, Slider is the youngest of five siblings and grew up “living off the garden.” His rural beginning instilled in him many of the attributes which he has exercised throughout a long coaching career. He credits a very closely-knit family and the environment of a small community with preparing him for life.

A multi-sport athlete in school – “we all played all the sports” – Slider was a part of the 1989 Maud state championship baseball team. He still has the ball which recorded the final out of that championship, which was a ground-ball out at first base. Slider was the first baseman.   

After obtaining his teaching and coaching certificate at Henderson State in Arkadelphia, Slider embarked on a typical coach’s journey. He coached at Maud, Redwater, Cooper, Canton, Jefferson, Greenville and Eustace, before arriving in Mineola.

His decision to come to Mineola five years ago certainly had much to do with the recommendation of fellow coach Heath Ragle who worked with Slider at Eustace and arrived ahead of Slider in Mineola. However, Slider credits the high standards at Mineola and the characteristics of the athletic program as significant influences.

“It’s East Texas, and we all tend to know of one another, and Mineola is a top program,” Slider said. 

Slider stressed that the value of scholastic sports is that young people are given the opportunity to work hard and develop the perseverance needed to be successful in life’s challenges.

Given the tremendously-talented teams of District 5-3A, the Yellowjackets will be facing some character-building challenges this fall. They will, no doubt, meet those challenges head-on.