Football: Carlton drops out of running for Fort Stockton job to become Granbury assistant

B.J. Carlton, the former Fort Stockton football team's defensive coordinator, resigned Tuesday to take an assistant football and track and field coaching position at Granbury.

Granbury is where former Panthers head coach and athletic director Tom Howard took an administrative post last month.

Carlton said he was one of four original candidates scheduled for an interview for the head football coach-athletic director position at Fort Stockton. When the school extended it to eight candidates, Carlton said, he decided to resign.

"I just felt like things weren't going our way as far as what's going on with new AD (athletic director) and Fort Stockton," Carlton said. "I had a couple of offers on the table and already turned one down."

Fort Stockton ISD interim superintendent Ralph Traynham did not return messages Wednesday.

Ken Ripley, the president of Fort Stockton's board of trustees, said it never was the hiring committee's plan to interview only four candidates. Ripley said the target always was to interview from six to eight candidates.

Ripley said interviews will be conducted through Monday with hopes of hiring a new head coach-athletic director by Monday night or Tuesday.

Carlton was the defensive coordinator during his four-year tenure at Fort Stockton. Previously, he was at Eastland for six years, five as defensive coordinator.

Howard recommended Carlton for the head coaching vacancy. Carlton had already applied for numerous similar jobs this offseason, including at Sweetwater and Brownwood.

He said that two weeks ago he was offered a defensive coordinator position at a Class 2A school. Carlton declined to name the school, adding that it was not in West Texas.

However, Fort Stockton was "by far my No. 1 choice," Carlton said.

"I love Fort Stockton," he said. "I loved those kids. We feel we put a lot of effort into the program."

During Carlton's tenure at the Class 3A school, the Panthers compiled a 26-17 record and won district titles the last two years.

Granbury plays in District 8-4A. Carlton said he will coach the defensive backs.

Carlton said his relationship with Howard got his foot in the door, but "it was a pretty tough interview process, too. They're strict on qualifications. I went through the full interview process."