Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas

Jarrod Smith, head football coach and athletic director for Troy ISD, made a few pit stops on his way back to his hometown, but in the process, he made some valuable contacts and learned a lot of football to get him where he is today.  Having the opportunity to work under some great coaches, he learned how to do things right, and he is bringing that same standard of excellence to the Troy athletic program.  

Jason Haddock, head football coach and athletic director for Wharton ISD, is a strong believer in growing the right culture within your program.  His program is intentional with this development, resulting in being awarded one of the Texas Way Districts of Distinction for the 2025-2026 school year.  Focusing  not only on athletics, but academics and serving the community, the Wharton Tigers are excelling in the game of life.  They are dropping from 4A-2 to 3A-1 and will be a new team making an impact at the 3A level.

Rashard Colquitt, head football coach and athletic coordinator for Sam Houston High School in San Antonio, doesn't make a move without a purpose,  and each of his moves through the coaching ranks have helped prepare him for where he is today.  Combining purpose with a strong work ethic and learning everything he can from the coaches around him, he has arrived in the big seat for the first time.  Coach Colquitt has high expectations for the Hurricanes this season as they look to repeat as district champions in a tough 5A San Antonio area district.

Tommy Koch, head football coach and athletic director for Paradise ISD got his seat at the big desk early in his career, but that's because he did not take anything for granted along the route he took to get to where he is.  Working hard, taking ownership of every role and spending a lot of time improving his knowledge of the game are just a few of the reasons he was prepared for this role.  He is a firm believer that he and his staff are where they are to do more than just coach kids and it is apparent when you talk to them that they have a greater purpose.  With "TLJ" showing up in more places around the campus, the Panther athletic program might have a little extra help in their corner as they step onto the field!

Brian Cope, head football coach and athletic coordinator for the West Fork Gators, is no stranger to young football programs.  Having started the program at Lake Belton, he now comes into the West Fork program which is only four years old.  Not looking to erase everything that has been started with the Gators, Coach Cope has kept much of the staff and parts of the system that he feels are positive and productive, making the transition smoother for all involved.  His expectations are high for the Gators this season and his early entrance to the program in February has given them the opportunity to hit the ground running this week, with much of the learning curve already surpassed.

Keri Timmerman, head football coach and athletic director for Marble Falls ISD, has put in more than his share of hours over the years preparing for the position he is in today.  Many moves with his family and a lot of time spent learning from the best have shaped him as a coach and influenced him as a person as well.  Starting year 3 at Marble Falls and the program advancing on the principles of the “Four Square Life”, the coaching staff and athletes are working hard to be a force in a very tough 4A division one district.

2026 THSCA coaching convention is over and this episode just takes some comments from some the attendees.

A passion for kids, that's the number one thing head football coach and athletic director for the Holland Hornets, Phillip Gibson,  is looking for when he has to hire a coach.  But be prepared to get on the whiteboard and talk football too!  He understands the importance of Xs and Os but his priorities are in order.  With most of the Hornet staff returning, Coach Gibson was able to make the transition a little easier for himself and the coaches, making the Holland Hornets excited to rise up as a contender in district 13 of 2A-2.

Don Hyde has been in La Vega ISD for over 20 years.  This is a rarity in the coaching world, but he wouldn't have it any other way.  He has put together a staff that focuses on family and they have expanded their family to consist of the entire community.   The La Vega ISD administration understands the importance of athletics and they are willing to make the investment into the program so their athletes will have the best opportunities and something to be proud of.  With a great staff and a long-term investment in the people of the community, the La Vega Pirates plan on continuing their history of success on the football field under the leadership of Coach Hyde.

From the resort community of Marble Falls to the dirt roads of Dawson, Logan Simmons and his family are making the move back to small town Texas.  Both he and his wife grew up in Little River so small towns are nothing new, but running a program is.  Coach Simmons has his first head job as the head football coach and athletic director for Dawson ISD and he has had to hit the ground running.  Getting a late start at end of April, he  had to hire most of his staff, get to know the athletes, start implementing his offense and defense and move his family!  But his excitement for what's going on at Dawson far outweighs the heavy load he will carry for the next few months.  The Bulldogs and their staff are excited for big things to come in Dawson!

Jake Griedl has worked in some of the top programs in the state and has taken what he has learned in each of those and put it all into practice at Bastrop High School.  He values his coaches and their input, believing every coach plays a significant role, whether they are in year one or year twenty.  Not only does he push his players to continually get better, but he expects the same from his coaches, implementing professional development strategies he learned from one of his mentors.  As coaches and players continue to get better, his program will continue to thrive, working to become a powerhouse in central Texas.

Deep in the Heart Athletics, LLC is a new coach owned business working to provide professional development opportunities to coaches through clinics and help promote rural athletic programs across the state through a podcast.  Today we are getting them introduced and letting people know about their upcoming clinic.

Brett Sawyer is beginning year 9 overall in Boerne and year 2 as the head man.  After 7 years as the DC for his good friend, the change to head coach was easy with several years of head coaching experience already on his resume.  Everything he does with his program is about functionality.  How can it help the program?  He keeps things simple, whether it's on the field or in the weight room.  This philosophy keeps them efficient, with very little wasted time for players or coaches.  Coach Sawyer and his family have had the opportunity to see many different areas of the state and are happy to call Boerne and the hill country home.  

Brennan Whitaker, head football coach and athletic director for the De Leon athletic program, has returned to small town football.  Maybe not his hometown, but back to his small town football roots.  After spending several years in the bright lights of Southlake Carrol and Birdville he took over the Bearcat program and brought the big school philosophy with him.  Implementing everything he learned from his years playing college ball and coaching in the metroplex, he has adapted those philosophies to fit 2A football.  This produced good results with a 9-4 record in his debut season.  Having year one under his belt, he has high expectations for the years to come!

Brandon Schmidt, head football coach and athletic coordinator for A&M Consolidated High School, has never known anything different than the field house and the gym.  Growing up in a coaching family, he never thought about doing anything else after his playing days were done.  He was patient and happy in his situations as a coordinator, but once the opportunity presented itself, he never looked back.  With 7 years as the head coach at 6A Prosper, he built an impressive 67-24 record.  In 3 years as the head coach for the Consolidated Tigers, they are 31-8.  But his emphasis is not on winning, it is on his four core values:  Service to others, Honor the team, Belief in the Process, and Expect Excellence.  Coach Schmidt holds his kids accountable to these values and it shows in his program.

Wesley Lambert , head football coach and athletic director for Wimberley ISD, decided early on that he wanted to sink his roots deep and keep his family in one place, and that is exactly what the Lambert family has done.  Returning to his wife Lacey's hometown, they have been in Wimberley now since 2011.  With both Coach Lamberts leading the program, (Lacey is the girls coordinator) they are planted firmly in the hill country, leading one of the most consistently competitive school districts in the state.   

From “the Graveyard” of San Saba (if you know about that, you know your Texas football) to the big time Friday night lights of west Texas 5A football, Mike Fullen has seen it all in his 30 plus years of coaching.  As head football coach and athletic coordinator for the Abilene High Eagles, Coach Fullen knows the demands of running a successful athletic program and the challenges of being in a large district in west Texas, where travel times for district games are similar to vacation road trips for our more densely populated area schools.  His longevity with the district brings a consistency that is one of many reasons for his continued success in a very competitive area of the state.

Craig Slaughter, head football coach for Wall ISD, is no stranger to the football  life.  Growing up a coaches kid, with other coaching relatives as well, he never thought of doing anything else.  His years of experience on both sides of the ball have proved valuable to the Wall program, where he served as the DC for 7 years before taking over two years ago.  Transitioning from a run-heavy offense to the spread, the Hawks haven't missed a beat the last two years and finished a perfect season at 16-0 this past year to win the 3A-2 state championship.  Coach Slaughter is proud of his hard working country kids and the community that he, his wife and daughter call home.

For Brownwood's head football coach, Jeryl Brixey, winning is found in the margins.  He believes it's the little things that many programs overlook that make the difference between average and great.  As he continues our series on in-season practice scheduling, it is obvious that no part of the game is overlooked in his planning.  With new facilities being finished up, including an overhaul of Gordon Wood Stadium, Brownwood is set to continue their strong winning tradition and do it in first class style.

New head football coach for Hillsboro ISD, Leeland Hamilton, is making his debut in the head coaching ranks to lead the Eagles program.  Moving to a mostly new district this year, he is excited about the opportunities this town and school district have to offer and more importantly, for what he can bring to this community.  Coming from a large 6A program at Katy Morton Ranch, he will have to make some adjustments to the smaller numbers as he will work to 2-platoon his athletes as much as he can.  Having connections at the NFL, college and high school levels, Coach Hamilton will have all the resources he needs to pull from to get his new program where he wants it to be.

Coach Larry Hill has been the head football coach in Smithson Valley for over 30 years.  This kind of longevity is almost unheard of in todays coaching world.  Growing up watching his father and his influence on young men and idolizing some of the greats, like Tom Landry, Bear Bryant and Darrell Royal, Coach Hill never second guessed his decision to enter the coaching profession.  His commitment to excellence and his motto of "do what we do better than they do what they do" has established a strong winning tradition for the Rangers and himself personally, having over 300 wins as a head coach.

This is our 3rd time to talk with Coach Randy Jackson on the show.  Coach Jackson has over 30 years experience from high school to professional.  This episode kicks off our first in a series on in-season practice planning.  We discuss his favorite way of scheduling the week's practices and specifics with daily breakdowns so you can get the most of out of your time on the field.

Head football coach and athletic director for the Brady Bulldogs, Jaron Roberts had been looking for the opportunity to get back close to he and his wife’s hometown of Comanche.  That chance finally came when he landed the head job in Brady.  In the last two seasons he has put up impressive records of 8-3 and 7-4.  This next alignment they will be dropping down from 3A to 2A and with their Tough People Win (TPW) mentality, they hope to expand on the success of the last two seasons.

Head football coach and athletic director for the Jarrell Cougars, Alan Haire has been doing what he's doing long enough to know what is important and what comes second.  From home visits to greeting kids at the door when they come in, relationships drive the atmosphere of his athletic program.  Expectations are high for the cougars and hard work is an every day expectation for athletes and coaches alike.  But this is what it takes to prepare young men for the real world outside of the school system and this is his priority.  Being a master motivator every day is required to be a part of his athletic staff and this is what brings success to Coach Haire's program.

Michael Enriquez is beginning year two as the head coach and athletic director for his hometown of Karnes City.  His goal is to restore "Badger Pride Never Dies" to the hearts and minds of his athletes.  He is all in for love for family and love for your teammates.  This is the driving principle behind everything he and his coaching staff do for their athletes.  From the relationships with players and coaching staff to relationships with the community in general, Coach Enriquez personifies what small town Friday night football is all about!

Jose Aguirre, head football coach and asst. AD for Gatesville ISD, promised his family he would not move them all over the state if he could help it and right now they are happy to call Gatesville home for the 4th year in a row.  Coach Aguirre just finished his first year as the head man after leading the defense for the three previous seasons.  With a tough district once again to look forward to, he is counting on a well organized off season and strong work ethic to have his players ready for the challenge.  

Head football coach and boys coordinator for the New Braunfels Unicorns, Brad Molder, has only been the head coach here for 2 years and has already racked up 20 wins over 27 games.  Now the unicorns are dropping a classification from 5A-1 to 5A-2 and although their new district is a tough one, just like their old one, they once again will be battling to make a deep playoff run.  Coach Molder covers all the bases with his athletes, from character building to the physical toughness demanded from his bootcamp program.  These are some of the key reasons they are expected to maintain a high level of competitiveness in the coming years.

From the panhandle of Texas, to the metroplex and now to the hill country, Ben Speer has seen a variety of programs and worked for some strong leaders in Texas High School football (including my co-host for episodes 6 and 7, Mike Fuller).  These leaders have helped shape him into the coach and leader he is today for the Bulldogs.  With his family at his side they have made the moves necessary to accept his first head role in Burnet, taking over for the retired Bryan Wood, one of his long time mentors. Here he hopes to sink his roots deep in the town he has called home for the last 5 years. 

Coach Andy Howard can name drop with the best of them as he recalls the long list of great coaches he has worked for and with.  These opportunities have served him well in preparing him for his role as athletic director and head football coach for Goldthwaite ISD.  Having been in west Texas his whole life, the country setting of this community is the perfect fit for the cotton farmer turned coach.  The uncomfortable should be comfortable, as he likes to put it and hard work is just a way of life for him and the Goldthwaite Eagles.                                                                     

Pete Hart has spent almost 40 years positively influencing young men and women through coaching.  One of those young men was me.  My classmates and I were fortunate enough to have him arrive in Bridgeport our 8th grade year and follow us through high school.  Coach Hart has influenced and inspired many young men and women to go into the education field and many with great success, such as Carl Abseck of Lufkin and Jeff Riordan of Chapel Hill.  His passion, not just for the game of football, but for seeing students grow and develop into good people is noticeable to anyone who has spent time with him.  Thank you coach Hart, for all you have done for the young people of the north Texas area!

Jason Reynolds is in his second stint in Natalia ISD.  His first role in the district was the OC several years back before leaving for the OC job in Wichita Falls.  But as soon as one of his mentors vacated the big seat in Natalia, he jumped at the opportunity to return and take over as AD and head football coach.  Coach Reynolds and family are in year two back with the Mustangs and he and his staff are working hard to keep a solid foundation built on character and a positive culture.

John Penn has been officiating for over 30 years and is following in the footsteps of his father, Percy. He has a deep understanding of the game, which allows him to tolerate a lot of the things that go along with officiating at a high level of play.  This understanding allows him to see intense situations through eyes of the players and coaches which helps him manage and sometimes de-escalate potentially volatile situations.  Randy Jackson joins me for our second episode of the officials series.

Wayne Elliott has been officiating for 47 years, from the junior high level all the way to the NFL.  Currently he is the Executive Secretary for the Austin Football Officials Association and officiates high school and college games.  We discuss the differences in officiating at the different levels and the challenges of officiating in general.  Join me as we take a look at the game from a different set of eyes.

Jeff Riordan, head football coach and athletic director for the Chapel Hill Bulldogs, lives out his motto of Code Blue for his program.   With the backing of the district administration all the way to the top, they put character and life before all else and keeping priorities straight has led to high levels of success for the Chapel Hill program.

As the son of a coach, Kody Yeager spent his share of time traveling through Texas working his way to the top.  Now he has returned home to find the paradise he left, unchanged from 20 plus years ago.  Same hard working kids, same family atmosphere and the same swimming and fishing spots he enjoyed as a kid are now enjoyed by his own family and kids.  We talk about what it was like playing and coaching for his father and how he has put the lessons he learned from him into practice.

Steve Huff, head football coach and athletic director for Decatur ISD has coached in 7 different states across our great country from the lower levels to the college ranks.  But he found his home under the Friday night lights of Texas in College Station and now in Decatur.  Coach explains his program's foundation; built on character, commitment, sacrifice and effort that he expects to be lived out through his staff as an example to his athletes.

Ingram Tom Moore athletic director and head football coach, Tate DeMasco, believes that the foundational pillars for a successful athletic program are the same as those for a successful life.  The tragic flooding of the Guadalupe in July put that foundation to the test and Coach DeMasco is proud of the response from their students and athletes.  From the tragedy, the community has grown stronger and closer and athletics playing a major part in the healing process.   

Jason Pitts is in year one with the Ozona Lions and is farther west than his family has been before.  Leaving the trees of east Texas for the western edge of the hill country, Coach Pitts is bringing his positivity with him to his new program.  His positive attitude and rise above mindset have caught on with his players helping them to a 5-0 start.  

Tony Salazar is the head football coach for Westlake HS and also assistant athletic director the district, Eanes ISD.  These roles keep him very busy leading one of the top 6A programs in the state.  But he still takes time for the important things, like caddying for his son, who plays competitive golf around the state.  Whatever the activity is, his expectations are high.  As a member of the Westlake Chaparrals, players know their roll on the team and each roll is important. Whether it is a scout team player or starting QB, players are expected to know their responsibilities for the week and get the job done.  From his high school and college playing days, Coach Salazar has learned from the best and applied it all here in Westlake, which is why we will have the opportunity to watch the Chaparrals play well into the post season.

Adam Cummings is beginning year 4 for West Plains high school as the only man to have headed the football program in the schools existence.  Coach Cummings was born and raised in west Texas and has spent all of his coaching years there as well, learning under some west Texas legends.  In the schools first 3 years he has already accumulated 30 wins but winning isn't priority #1.  For him, it's faith and family first.  He and his staff work to reinforce family values and work ethic through character and leadership development programs within the athletic arena.

Coach Salazar is a Goliad native who has spent most of his coaching years within a stones throw of home.  He begins his 6th season at the helm for the Tigers and hopes to continue their successful ways.  He believes "attitude reflects leadership" (as Julius reminded Gary- you football movie fans should get that) and he models this for his players.  He loves what he does and it shows in his smile when he talks about football and the town he has called home for most of his life.  And if you're a Texas history fan, there's plenty in the books about the small town of Goliad!

Brian Hodnett knows the history of Sweetwater football, having grown up just down the road in Hamlin.  Although one day he might go back to the cotton farms he came from, right now he has answered the call to help grow and develop young men and women to be successful after their athletic careers have ended.  Promoted to the head coach and AD this year, he is looking to take his 10 years of experience as a head coach at Jacksboro and Haskell and combine them with his predecessors teachings to battle in a tough 3A-1 district that includes Jim Ned and Comanche.  With a good coaching staff and a good community behind him, Coach Hodnett and his Mustangs will be a force to contend with in 3A west Texas football this year.

There are a lot of good coaches and men in Texas high school football, and Jim Kerbow definitely ranks towards the top of the list.  Every school across this great state where Coach Kerbow has been, he has gone above and beyond to meet the needs of his students and athletes at school and also at home.  He stresses the importance of being someone others can depend on and he works to instill this trait in his athletes.

Joel Fontenot-Amedee, head football coach and athletic director for the Bandera Bulldogs, talks about the importance of having a community that feels like family and balancing priorities not just for himself but for his athletes.  He has know he wanted to be a coach since high school but did not expect to wind up in Texas high school football after growing up and playing college ball in his home state of Louisiana.

David Lucio starts year 10 in his hometown of Tidehaven with his Tigers ranked as one of the top 3A-2 schools in the state.  His background of Madden football and the military have created the perfect combination of strategy and discipline that have helped him to be successful everywhere he has been.  The pillars of his program are hard work and toughness, and with his son, Eric, at his side, the Tigers will look to make another run at Jerry's World this year!

Head football coach and Athletic director for Mart ISD, Chris Lancaster, has spent his entire life on the football field, from high school to the college level and back to high school again.  His years of experience and travel have brought him to one of the most successful football programs in the state, with 8 state championships and 15 state appearances.  There is always pressure in a program with this kind of history,  but Coach Lancaster is welcoming the challenge in his new home where putting kids first is priority #1.

Jax Brown recently signed with Arkansas State to play football for the Red Wolves.  But previously he had signed and played spring ball at Sam Houston State before entering the portal.  Jax is a good example of why the portal is necessary for athletes.  We discuss the portal and how he managed his serious injuries in high school to keep on his path to the D1 level.  I am joined in this episode by co-host Josh Brown, who coaches at Salado and is also my oldest son.

Head football coach and AD for the Giddings Buffaloes, Luke Hobbs, started his journey from over 1200 miles away but knew Texas was the place to be on Friday nights.  His family has been in Giddings before, but this time he is holding the reigns for the program.  He has a good staff around him and hopes to do big things for the Buffaloes.  

Head football coach and AD for Ruidoso HS, Shane Eidson is taking over as the new coach for the Ruidoso Warriors.  Expanding his role for the district from AD to the combination job, he will take what he has learned from his mentors as a coach in Texas and apply those same principles to football in New Mexico.  Coach Eidson talks about the similarities, differences and challenges for programs in New Mexico versus Texas.  My older brother, Heath Brown, retired head football coach/AD and high school principal joins me for this episode as we enjoy our vacation in New Mexico.

Kent Walker left his very successful program in Liberty Hill for the rolling hills of Blanco.  Coach Walker brings to Blanco a toughness that he has acquired through the difficult times in his life, that he hopes to pass on to his new athletes so they are prepared to handle the challenges life brings.