Houston girls soccer coach David Wolff named best in nation

When Houston's David Wolff found out he had been named USA Today National Coach of the Year, he was doing what he has done for much of the past 25 years.

"I was watching (World Cup) soccer," he said Tuesday. "I got a text from (Bartlett) coach (Robby) Midyett that said 'congratulations' and I didn't know what I was being congratulated for. Then I went on Facebook and saw it, and after that my phone just blew up.

"Coaches, former players ... hearing from former players was the most gratifying. Even though it (the award) was for this team at this time, I feel like everyone has been part of the journey. It's humbling."

The team Wolff was referring to was this year's squad that went 25-0-0, won the Class AAA state championship and subsequently was crowned national champion. Over the past four seasons, the Mustangs are 85-2-4 and have won two state titles while finishing runner-up once.

Since 2009 — his second season at the school after coming over from Ridgeway — Houston's girls are 183-9-9 and have won five state titles.

"It's all about culture," he told USA Today. "We're lucky to have people that want to be at Houston and want to be a part of this culture ... In the last four years, it's been about competing on the national level and when that happens the state becomes easier."

Wolff, who also coaches Houston's boys, will enter the 2018 season with 683 combined victories and 12 state titles. Nine starters return from last year's girls team, putting him within reach of 700.

"I told them in November, the best way to succeed for this (upcoming) year is to forget about last year," he said. "When we get on that bus Sunday to go to Florida (the Mustangs have trained the last few seasons with noted NFL trainer Tom Shaw), last year is over."

Cordova lineman Matthew Bedford to Hoosiers

Indiana picked up another local football player on Tuesday when Cordova offensive lineman Matthew Bedford announced his commitment.

The 6-foot-5, 260-pound left tackle is currently the 27th-best prospect in Tennessee according to 247Sports' composite rankings. He chose Indiana after also considering offers from Memphis, MTSU, UT Martin, Austin Peay, Chattanooga and Eastern Kentucky.

Bedford will join former Cordova teammate Jacolby Hewitt at Indiana along with two other players from the Class of 2018, Germantown's Jaylin Williams and Cam Jones of St. Benedict.

Reach John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @johnvarlas.