Former Browns kicker Phil Dawson achieves his second dream: High school football coach

Phil Dawson has always wanted to be a high school football coach, believing it was the best way for him to affect young people’s lives.

On Tuesday, the former Browns kicker achieved that goal, being named to head the program at Hyde Park School in Austin, Texas, and also assuming the position of assistant athletic director.

Dawson, 46, spent the past two years as associate head coach and special teams coordinator at Lipscomb Academy in Nashville, serving under his 2005 Browns teammate Trent Dilfer.

“I had to really sort through things and have actually turned down some college and NFL opportunities,” Dawson recently told the Beacon Journal. “My heart’s just in high school. I want to help these kids and do what I can. You know how it is, the higher up you get, the less it becomes about the people the more it becomes just Xs and Os and winning games.

“That’s fine, but my heart’s more towards helping kids out. I can sit at home and watch the news and get real mad at how the world’s going or I can try to do something about it in my tiny little sphere of influence. So that’s what I’m going to do.”

Dawson said he and his wife, Shannon, were looking for the best fit for their daughter, Sophiann, finishing her freshman year in high school. Their son, Beau, is a senior tight end, slot receiver, and fullback at Lipscomb.

“Not super great timing, she needs a little time to process the move because she really likes Nashville,” Dawson said of Sophiann. “She’s the only one. She’ll be fine. Shannon’s all fired up.”

Dawson will start work this week and said his family will join him after the school year ends.

Dawson spent 1999-2012 with the Browns before signing with the San Francisco 49ers as a free agent. He concluded his career in 2018, his second of two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.

His Texas roots are deep, having attended Lake Highlands High School in Dallas and kicking at the University of Texas.

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“Really felt like it was time to take the next step,” Dawson said. “It’s a great place for me to start out, I may stay there the whole time, who knows?”

Football-wise, Dawson has some work to do as Hyde Park went 0-10 last season.

“Community’s fired up, they’re pouring all kinds of resources into it. Hopefully, we can build this thing and ultimately win a state championship in the near future,” Dawson said.

“I’m stepping into not a great situation. Hopefully, all those years in Cleveland will give me some insight on how to turn things around, or how not to turn things around.”

Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/browns. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MRidenourABJ.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Ex-Browns kicker Phil Dawson named coach at Austin, Texas high school