Andrew Sibley Everest

1924 - 2014

Andrew S. Everest, born in Wichita Falls on Oct. 27, 1924, died in the arms of his wife, Bonnie Faye Gunter Everest, at his home Sunday morning, Dec. 21, 2014. At 90 years young, Andy Everest (also known as Coach, Pop, Papa, Dad, and Daddy) leaves an amazing legacy: "Accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative!" The quick-witted, strong, faithful, tender, fun and most of all loving man will be missed by all who met him. Andy Everest graduated from Odessa High School in 1943 before enlisting in the U.S. Navy to serve his country in World War II as a Navy radio airman. After the war, Andy Everest tried out and made the TCU football team under Head Coach Dutch Meyer only to find out rules would not allow him to receive the scholarship and work at a paying job. Everest, dedicated his sweetheart Bonnie, left Fort Worth to take a job in the Potash Mines in Carlsbad, N.M., to support his wife and first-born son. In 1947, Jack Curtice, via Andy's football buddies from Odessa High School, recruited Andy Everest out of the Potash Mines to play for the UTEP Miners. Everest, now massive in stature from working in the mines, attended UTEP (Texas Western) from 1947-1951 and graduated with a master's of art. Andy was a starter at center-linebacker and was known for his ability and huge, skilled hands. Andy was co-captain at UTEP in 1950 with Harvey Pug Gabrel and in their third appearance in the Sun Bowl, Texas Western College (now UTEP) recorded its first win on Jan. 2, 1950. The Miners upended Georgetown University, 33-20, in the 15th edition of the game. For the second straight year, TWC entered the Sun Bowl as the nation's leading rushing team. In 1949, the Miners averaged 333.2 yards per game on the ground and surpassed that average against Georgetown, as Texas Western racked up 348 yards on the ground. Ironically, after a successful collegiate football career, Everest had offers to play in the NFL from four professional teams. Unfortunately, $4,000 dollars to play professional football in the NFL for the Chicago Bears, the Los Angeles Rams or the New York Yankees lead by Norman Parker "Red" Strader was less money than he could make as a school teacher and varsity high school football coach. Therefore, with a wife and now two young sons, Coach Andy chose to teach in public schools to support his wife, Bonnie, and sons, Tom and Alan. Like most coaches of the era of Friday night lights in Texas, Andy served in three Texas high schools: Monahans High School, Miller High School of Corpus Christi, and San Angelo High School before heading to collegiate athletics in Utah in 1953. Under the direction of Coach Jack Curtice (Cactus Jack), his college football coach, Andy's coaching career took off with five years at the University of Utah. Back in the day, when a university football coaching staff had four or five coaches TOTAL, the freshman coach was the right hand man to the head coach. Everest was in charge of the "frosh" football team, all of the recruiting as well as being an assistant coach on the varsity team with Jack Curtice ("Cactus Jack" is known for inventing the shovel pass while at the University of Utah). As the freshman coach for the Utes, Everest recruited and developed freshman players like Larry Frank Wilson who became a two-way star at Utah and the No. 7 draft pick in 1960. Wilson became NFL's top free safety, made "safety blitz" famous playing for the NFL St. Louis Cardinals establishing Wilson as an NFL Hall of Famer. Chet Franklin was also recruited by Everest and Franklin, a close family friend, later coached for Oklahoma University, the San Francisco 49ers, the Oakland Raiders, and the Saints. Everest spent five years as a line coach at Stanford (1958-1962) before he left with Curtice to coach at the University of California at Santa Barbara for an additional seven years where his teams played against his oldest son, Tom, who started for UCSB's arch rivals, the Cal Poly Mustangs. At UCSB Coach Everest served as head coach of the Gaucho Gridiron the last two years before returning to Texas collegiate football. Other coaching stints at the college level include Southern Methodist University in the Southwest Conference where his second son, Alan, played for Hayden Fry. At SMU, Andy Everest and Bum Phillips forged an amazing camaraderie and sealed a lifelong friendship when they lived together under the Mustang Stadium bonding over war stories, football stories, game plays and practical jokes while waiting for their families to make the move to Texas. Coach Andy went on to the University of North Texas (NTSU) as assistant head coach under Odessa High School teammate and friend, Hayden Fry. Coach Andy's third son, Andy R., played at NTSU. Coach Everest became athletic director at NTSU before joining the coaching ranks in the NFL. Andy Everest achieved the ultimate in his coaching career in the National Football League with the New Orleans Saints with his longtime friend O.A. "Bum" Phillips. Phillips appointed Coach Andy as the first official tight ends coach for the New Orleans Saints, marking a first for that position coach in the NFL. After retiring from the NFL, Everest spent a year as the player personnel director for Minor League Football and then one year as a line coach for Arena Football's San Antonio Force under Dick Nolan. Andy, between golf and traveling with his wife, family and friends, gave tips, leads and color commentary on players and coaches for the pre "fantasy football" concept. When everyone thought Everest was finally "really" retired for the third time, he went on to be a head coach for American Football in Italy where his team in Legano, Italy, was undefeated and won the Italian Super Bowl twice running. A culminating accomplishment for Coach Andy includes a victory in the prestigious Euro Bowl defeating championship teams from eight countries to become Euro Bowl Champions in 1989. He was named Coach of the Year for two years overseas. Everest retired in 1994 after 50 years of football. Andy Everest was inducted into the All-American Football Foundation's Hall of Fame at the Banquet of Champions in Las Vegas, Nev., on June 16, 1997, as Outstanding Assistant Coach having worked with Jack Curtice, Hayden Fry and Bum Phillips as a loyal and expert assistant coach. In May 2002 Andy Everest was inducted in the University of California Santa Barbara Athletic Hall of Fame with the team that earned the honors to play in the Camellia Bowl and the recognition continues again posthumous May 2015 at the 50th Anniversary of the Camellia Bowl Team from the Gaucho Gridiron. In October 2004 Andy Everest was inducted in the University of North Texas' Athletic Hall of Fame following his coaching colleagues and friends Bill Brashier and Hayden Fry. The final honor came in 2012 at his beloved alma mater where his athletic career and coaching efforts secured him a place in the University of Texas at El Paso's Athletic Hall of Fame. Everest's life was filled with joys and celebrations, ups, downs and compromises. Even the last years were amazing for Coach Andy and his family and friends. Andy was baptized in a horse trough in Goliad, on the OA "Bum" Phillips Ranch with his best friend, Bum Phillips. He toasted his 70th wedding anniversary at a celebration with players, coaches and friends from years of "lore" and seasons past and present honoring his one true love and most loyal and important fan - Bonnie. Our beloved Coach celebrated his 90th birthday in style surrounded again by his family and loved ones from around the country. Andy Everest's life's example as a man, husband, father, coach and friend was a testament of living life with integrity and being all that is true and honorable every day. Andy Everest lived his life teaching, honoring, mentoring and loving all those with whom he came in contact leaving each a better person for having known him. There are few men who exemplify all that is good in every sense of the word - Andy Everest was one of them. Andrew S. Everest "Coach Andy" was preceded in death by his parents, Aaron Sibley Everest and Roberta "Fay" Bourn Everest; and his only sibling, Alan Crosswaite Everest. Coach Andy is survived by his "West Texas Sweetheart" and "Homecoming Duchess" of 70 years, Bonnie Faye Gunter Everest; his sons, Tom Andrew Everest and wife, Joan, of Escondido, Calif., Alan Dale Everest of Oceanside, Calif., Andy Richards Everest and wife, Karen, of San Antonio; and his daughter, Kathryn Jeanette Everest and Sandra Salling of Arlington. Coach PaPa leaves behind six precious grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and numerous adopted family and friends from around the country. All who met him loved him "BIG" - but our coach made sure you knew he loved you "BIGGER!"