With a 130-75 career mark over 17 years of coaching, including stops in Winters, Whitewright, Bangs and Brady on his resume, Ballinger football coach Chuck Lipsey has a proven track record.

And needless to say, the expectations of him building Ballinger into a consistent district title contender arrived with him prior to last season — his first with the Bearcats.

There was, however, something he needed to do first — set a foundation.