By Thomas Jones, Westlake Picayune

Darren Allman, the head football coach for Odessa Permian since 2005, will become Westlake’s new head football coach, based on sources inside and outside of the Eanes school district.

District officials did not confirm or deny the hire, saying such information will only be released during tonight’s meeting, which begins with a closed session at 6:30 p.m. followed by an open session at 7:30 p.m.

The hire would cap a fast-paced job search since Derek Long announced his retirement Jan. 29. Eanes received a flurry of applicants for the position, including a handful of prominent coaches with championship experience. The interview process narrowed the search down to three candidates, including Allman and current assistant coach Steve Ramsey. After several days of negotiations, Allman and school district officials tentatively agreed to terms that will make him one of the highest paid football coaches in the state. The details of the contract, including Allman’s possible responsibility as the Eanes school district athletic director, won’t be released until tonight.

Allman has spent the last four years at Permian, perhaps the most high-profile prep football program in the nation after the release of the book “Friday Night Lights” in 1989 and subsequent film and television series. Allman, a Permian graduate who played for two state finalists teams, rebuilt a program that had slipped into mediocrity. He tallied a 38-11 record in his four seasons, including consecutive 12-1 seasons in 2007 and 2008.

This season, the Panthers lost to eventual state champion Allen 28-22 in the third round.

Allman worked as an assistant at several other notable schools, including a one-year stint in Temple and eight years in Brownwood’s successful program. He served as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Highland Park before taking the Permian job.