After six seasons as the head coach at McClain, former NFL wide receiver and special teams player Willie Ponder is now an assistant coach at Jenks. Last year, McClain finished 6-4, the school’s first winning season since current Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs played for the Titans.
Ponder told Tulsa World, “It was a tough decision. I will always be a north-side guy. This is more about my family and an opportunity to grow as a coach.”
During his scholastic days, Ponder played at Tulsa Central High School. He was All-Metro at wide receiver and defensive back. As a senior, he was selected as the top defensive back in District 5A-3 and caught 45 passes for 695 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also returned three kickoffs and two punts for touchdowns.
The New York Giants selected Ponder in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft. In 2004, he averaged 26.9 yards per kickoff return, the best in the NFL.
In addition to the Giants, Ponder also played for the St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks.
Last season, Jenks finished runner-up in Oklahoma’s 6A-I. The Trojans finished No. 253 in the High School Football America 300 national rankings, powered by NFL Play Football.
