Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas

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.

Season 1 had a lot of good information shared by coaches from all of the schools we visited. I put together some of the more memorable moments and some of the funniest/unusual moments to wrap up the season.

From Texas to Oklahoma and back, from small schools to big schools and back, head football coach and AD for Mason ISD, Wade Griffin has seen it all. With four kids in school and a wife who is also a coach, he hopes to make Mason his final resting place on his coaching journey. Join us as Coach Griffin shares his thoughts and ideas for successful football programs and what he is bringing to a town with a rich history of success in academics and athletics.

Coach Dewaine Lee wears a lot of big hats in the small 6-man community of Strawn. Superintendent, head football coach and city council member are just a few. In his 27 years as a head coach he has amassed over 250 wins and 5 state championships. The lure of bigger and better things has not been able to drag him away from the town he has called home for the last 22 years. We discuss the documentary "Texas 6" that was filmed with his 2019 and 2020 teams and also what it means to be "MIS- made in Strawn".

Eli Reinhart is fresh off his state championship win as the OC for the North Crowley Panthers. He is taking over for the Hutto Hippos with his first head coaching role. We discuss everything from Michigan high school football to his expectations for his new athletes as he begins a new era in Hippo football.

Randy Jackson has had experience as a head coach and specifically turning programs around by developing culture and very intentional actions to bring about the desired result: a successful program. Listen to Coach Jackson talk about the first steps and priorities you will want to attend to as you start your program.

Brent Kornegay enters his 22nd year as a head coach and athletic director, starting anew at Johnson City in the hill country. After retiring once, the pull to get back on the field brought him back in 2 years ago and now he looks to revive the Eagles program for Johnson City.

Devon Dorris is closing out his 15th season as head coach for Azle ISD and that is probably the longest tenure of any head football coach in Azle high school history. He has returned to his hometown and kept the hornets playing consistently at a high level against 5A powerhouses in the DFW area. Coach Dorris has taken what he learned from his coaches in high school and college and put them into practice for the Hornets.

Denney Faith is the 2nd winningest active football coach in the state of Texas with 369 wins. Coach Faith talks about what keeps the Lions consistently in winners circle and what the keys are to staying in one place so long. (and it's not just the bass fishing up there!)

Coach Cedric Hardeman of Conroe High School talks about his move from the business world back to the football field. He also talks about the importance of "finding your David", what has God given you to be successful in life and how he teaches that to his athletes to prepare them for life after graduation.

Keith Allen has been selected as the head football coach at Schreiner University as they lay the foundation for their new football program, which will begin games this fall. We talk about what it's like recruiting kids to start a program and how he sells Kerrville and Schreiner University to new recruits.

Clint Dolezel, head football coach for East Texas A&M just finished his second football season as the man in charge for the Lions. Recently they have moved from the divison 2 level to division 1-FCS. As they have changed classifications they have also changed names from Texas A&M Commerce back to East Texas A&M. There is a lot going on in Commerce! Coach Dolezel brings us through his years in the arena football league and what brought him back to his alma mater as he discusses how recruiting works for a division 1-FCS program.

Ryan Mahon is the head football coach for the Blinn Buccaneers. Blinn competes in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). Coach Mahon talks about how he recruits, what his goal is for his athletes and how the portal has affected his level of football.

Bob Wager, former high school football coach and current TCU director of football relations talks about recruiting at the D1 level. We also discuss the effect the portal and NIL are having on college football today.

Episode 22 Jesse Burleson of the Hardin Simmons Cowboys Coach Burleson is the head football coach for Hardin Simmons University. Hardin Simmons is a Division 3 university that participates athletically in the American Southwest Conference. In this episode he talks to us about the recruiting process for prospective student athletes, how to get noticed and the effect of the portal and NIL on his program.