For Derron Gatewood, there was no better place to be than with the Permian football coaching staff after his playing career wound down.
He established himself as a Division I prospect on the offensive line as a member of the Panthers about eight years ago, racking up many accolades including All-State Honorable Mention honors after he gave up zero sacks in the 2013 season.
His play throughout high school led him to UTEP, where he lined up next to NFL second round draft choice Will Hernandez and blocked for future Pro Bowl running back Aaron Jones.
Upon graduation, Gatewood knew he wanted to give back to the program that built him up.
So he called up Permian head coach Jeff Ellison, his former offensive line coach with the Panthers, to see if there was a spot for him on the coaching staff.
“I wanted to be around football in general again, I have a passion for the sport,” Gatewood said. “What better place to be than where you grew up at.
“I thought this would be the best fit for me and they gave me the opportunity to get my foot in the door in coaching, so I felt like this was the best opportunity.”
Gatewood currently serves as Permian’s offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator.
He wants to get the school’s football players on the radar of college coaches and put them on a similar path to the one he took.
Ellison said Gatewood was a conscientious person and a strong leader when he played for the Panthers.
Those qualities have carried over from Permian to UTEP and now to the sidelines.
“Now as a coach it’s the same thing, he loves the kids, works hard and does a great job,” Ellison said. “I’ve got two guys on the staff that I’ve been able to coach and they came back to work with me, that’s always something special.”
The head coach believes Gatewood has handled the transition from playing to coaching smoothly, looking like a seasoned mentor when he’s practices or games.
As a young coach, Gatewood said one of the most important aspects of his job to bring high energy to every practice in a consistent fashion.
He believes that helps him connect with his players.
Gatewood’s playing career officially ended after the 2019 college football season, being named to the Conference USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll four times and to the Rimington Trophy Spring Watch List before what was supposed to be his senior season in 2018.
The Rimington Trophy is given annually to the nation’s best Division I center, a position Gatewood switched to at UTEP after playing offensive guard at Permian.
Since Gatewood joined the Permian coaching staff, he has made it a priority to get his players recognition from college coaches.
His main method of exposure is social media.
“The biggest thing with me playing in college and having all these connections with coaches that are probably all over the state and nation now, it helps me get these kids out and get noticed,” Gatewood said. “My biggest thing is making sure these kids get noticed, especially out here in Odessa.”
Gatewood said there’s plenty of football talent to find in West Texas, citing players like Permian offensive guard Harris Sewell and offensive tackle Cooper Sheehan.
Sewell currently holds offers from multiple Power 5 schools and Sheehan has a Division I offer from the Air Force Academy.
Just last week, Permian quarterback Rodney Hall was invited to all of Texas Tech’s home games for the 2021 season.
Ellison said having someone with experiences like Gatewood’s on the coaching staff benefits his players greatly as they look toward the future of their own playing careers.
“Being able to see guys that have lived their dream get to come back and pass it on to the next generation is great,” Ellison said.
When Gatewood played alongside future professional players like Hernandez and Jones at UTEP, he knew he’d learn plenty of lessons to pass down to others later on.
“They showed me the ropes and they showed me how to play the game,” Gatewood said. “Giving back, that was the biggest thing that I wanted to do when I got into coaching.”
>> Follow Chris Amaya on Twitter at @OA_CAmaya
