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october 2026

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OCTOBER 2026

PUBLISHER

TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL COACHES ASSOCIATION, INC.

PUBLISHING/EDITORIAL OFFICES: 2553 N INTERSTATE 35 FRONTAGE RD SAN MARCOS, TX 78666-5924 web: www.thsca.com

Subscriptions: Annual subscription to TEXAS COACH for members of the Texas High School Coaches Association is $20.00, which is included in the THSCA membership dues. For non-members, digital versions of the magazine may be accessed for free at www.thsca.com. Single copies are $5.00 per current volume. TEXAS COACH is published monthly except in June, July, and August and is dated the first of the publication month, although it is mailed around the 10th of the publication month. Change of address: Request for change of address must reach us 30 days before the date of issue with which it is to take effect. Duplicate copies cannot be sent to replace those undelivered through failure to send advance notice. Email change of address to info@thsca.com or members can go online and make the change in your member portal profile at www.thsca.com. Periodicals Postage Paid at San Marcos, TX & additional entries. “All rights reserved”. (USPS 540-600). POSTMASTER Send address change to:

brent davis

President - Gregory-portland

sterling doty

region 2 - stephenville

heather woodman

carlos lynn

Pres-elect - crowley

Casey Pearce

region 2 - Breckenridge

jeff ellison

drew sanders

aaron dunnam (interim)

andy cavalier

mike reed

marvin sedberry jr.

antonio wiley (interim)

Michael Pry

frank maldonado

Past-pres - vandegrift

region 2 - gordon

region 3 - arl. lamar

region 4 - permian

region 4 - ep coronado

rick lafavers

corey cephus

chris cochran

region 1 - dumas

region 3 - terrell

region 4 - midland lee

region 1 - canadian

jason richards

region 1 - frenship memorial

marcus shavers

region 3 - coppell

region 3 - north forney

b.j. gotte

brian randle

region 5 - pearland

region 5 - randle

TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL COACHES ASSOCIATION P.O. DRAWER 1138 SAN MARCOS, TX 78667-1138 Printed by Integ in Austin, Texas.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOE MARTIN joemartin@thsca.com

region 5 - ridge point

region 5 - cy-ranch

region 6 - lindale

region 6 - la vega

don hyde

region 6 - kilgore

clint fuller

reuben farias

eddie salas

rachel torvik

tony salazar

region 7 - la joya

ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GLEN WEST glenwest@thsca.com

Chief Operating Officer of THSCA

BRIAN POLK

brianpolk@thsca.com Chief Operating Officer of THSCEF

LIBBY PACHECO

libbypacheco@thsca.com Director of Publications & Technology BECKY ADAMS beckyadams@thsca.com

Ben Bitner

reg 7 - cc veterans memorial

David Sanchez

region 7 - Laredo United

joe hubbard

region 8 - east central

region 8 - sa harlan

region 8 - sa reagan

BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMMITTEES for 2026-2027:

Finance: Brent Davis, Sterling Doty, B.J. Gotte, Carlos Lynn, Tony Salazar, Marvin Sedberry Jr., *Drew Sanders Bylaws: *Chris Cochran, Joe Hubbard, Rick LaFavers, Mike Reed, David Sanchez, Rachel Torvik

Director of Administration MARGARET BEYER margaretbeyer@thsca.com

Ethics: *Aaron Dunnam , Clint Fuller, Don Hyde, Casey Pearce, Antonio Wiley

Director of Media & Marketing ANNA BUCKALEW annabuckalew@thsca.com

Magazine: Andy Cavalier, *Jeff Ellison, Reuben Farias, Frank Maldonado, Mike Pry, Eddie Salas

Director of Exhibits & Sponsorships MOLLY FLY mollyfly@thsca.com Director of Membership ALLIE HERRMANN allieherrmann@thsca.com Director of Finance & Accounting KEVIN SMITH kevinsmith@thsca.com Director of Hotels & Hospitality CHELSEA MILLER chelseamiller@thsca.com Director of Public Relations & Awards TYLER WATTS tylerwatts@thsca.com

OCTOBER 2026

region 8 - westlake

Policy: Ben Bitner, Corey Cephus, *Brian Randle, Jason Richards, Marcus Shavers, Heather Woodman Hall of Honor: Charlie Johnston, *Gary Joseph, Mark Reeve, Allen Wilson

*Denotes Chair

Director-Elects & Alternates: DIRECTOR-ELECTS

R1 – Aaron Dunnam, Dumas; R2 – Mitch Ables, Hawley; R3 – Antonio Wiley, Coppell; R4 – Vance Washington, Permian; R5 – Travis Reeve, El Campo; R6 – Doug Wendel, Midlothian; R7 – JC Ramirez Jr., Veterans Memorial; R8 – Amanda Wolf-Schramm, Smithson Valley

1ST ALTERNATES R1 – Rodney Vincent, Shallowater; R2 – Jake Escobar, Comanche; R3 – Bill Poe, Justin Northwest; R4 – Thad Fortune, Midland High; R5 – Kevin Berneathy, La Porte; R6 – Jermaine Lewis, Gladwater; R7 – Mark Chester, Gregory Portland; R8 – Galen Zimmerman, Dripping Springs 2nd ALTERNATES R1 – Jason Sims, Monterey; R2 – Scott Stewart, Abilene; R3 – Joseph Sam, Arlington Bowie; R4 – Ruben Torres, EP Franklin; R5 – James Clancy, Klein Cain; R6 – Beau Trahan, Tyler Legacy; R7 – Benny Cabello, Nixon; R8 – TP Miller, SA Johnson

CONTENTS DE PA RT M E N T S

7 10 15

16 24 28 34 42 61 68 4

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

BRENT DAVIS - GERGORY-PORTLAND HIGH SCHOOL

OCTOBER 2026 VOL. LXXI NO. 2

C O V E R S T O RY THE GOLD STANDARD

NOW HEAR THIS

IN ATHLETICS IS TEXAS

WIT & WISDOM

F E AT U R E S

ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPDATES

INSPIRATION & MOTIVATION

20 32

ATHLETIC TRAINER SHORTAGE BY ISRAEL PENA, CANYON LAKE HS

FROM "ODA" TO DYNASTY - CELINA SOCCER BY JUSTIN PRESCOTT, CELINA HS

LIABILITY INSURANCE

ARE YOU COVERED?

AROUND THE STATE

PHOTOS OF OUR COACHING FAMILY

BEFORE YOU GO TO THE POLLS

RESEARCH YOUR CANDIDATES BEFORE HEADING TO VOTE!

THE GOLD STANDARD

THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND EDUCATE. EXCEL. PLAY.

AWARD DEADLINES

SUPER ELITE TEAMS & COACHES OF THE YEAR

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

SUPPORT THOSE WHO SUPPORT OUR ASSOCIATION

USPS OWNERSHIP STATEMENT

REPORT ON TEXAS COACH MAGAZINE 2025-2026

44 50 56 62

RUN AT EM': FINDING THE ONE MESSAGE BY TY PALMER, EARLY ISD

BUILDING A CHAMPION

BY BRIAN G. RANDLE, LAMAR RANDLE HS

BETWEEN THE COURT & HOME

BY ILIANNA KNOWLES, ABILENE ISD-MADISON MS

BUILDING UNSELFISH OFFENSIVE LINE CULTURE BY CLAY MAYO, WOODVILLE HS

OCTOBER 2026

2026-2027 THSCA

ADVISORY COMMITTEES

AQUATICS R-1 Dakota Tefertiller, Lubbock R-3 Tony Arbogast, Flower Mound R-4 Jessica Minjarez, Pecos R-5 Ty Halford, Clear Creek R-7 Yvonne Moran, Harlingen CISD R-8 *Kari Brothers, Northside At-Large Michael Waldmann, Andrews ATHLETIC DIRECTORS R-1 Mike Meeks, Lubbock R-2 Devon Dorris, Wichita Falls R-3 Jeff Smith, Prosper R-4 Jaime Boswell, Andrews R-5 Lance Carter, Katy R-6 Sam Gillespie, Tyler R-7 Mike Troutman, Sinton R-8 Becky Craig, Leander ATHLETIC TRAINERS R-1 Isaac Wimberley, Lub.Cooper R-2 Billy Abbe, Abilene R-3 *Mike Harrison, Allen R-4 Steven Ortiz, Midland Lee R-5 Aimee Williams, Fort Bend R-6 Greg Goerig, Midlothian R-7 Benjamin Garcia, Harlingen R-8 Chad Hennessey, Georgetown At-Large Ally Furey, Dell Children’s BASEBALL R-1 Jed Anderson, Canyon R-2 Allen McGee, Graham R-3 Mike Smith, Lake Ridge R-5 Jacob Hooker, El Campo R-6 Matthew Anderson, Franklin R-7 Adrian Alaniz, Sinton R-8 Tom Alfieri, SA Churchill BOYS BASKETBALL R-1 Tony Wagner, Estacado R-2 Justin Reese, Abilene R-3 Matt Wester, Plano East R-4 Jason Archibald, Wink R-5 David Montano, Stafford R-6 Colten Gober, Venus R-7 Lucio Rodriguez, Edinburg Vela R-8 Andrew Brewer, Alamo Heights At-Large *C.J. Villegas, Frenship Memorial GIRLS BASKETBALL R-1 Tate Lombard, Canyon R-2 *Kenni Patton, Electra R-3 Monesha Allen, Denton Ryan R-4 Cynthia Hernandez, Burges R-5 Christy Westbrooks, Atascocita R-6 Marcus Willis, La Vega R-7 Ashley McHugh, Sinton R-8 Katina Flournoy-Walker, Leander Glenn At-Large Brooke Brittain, Mansfield *DENOTES CHAIR

OCTOBER 2026

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY R-1 Jarrod Thomas, Littlefield R-3 *Landon Wren, Coppell R-4 Alonzo Samaniego, Presidio R-5 Anthony Branch, Consolidated R-6 John Capron, Midway R-7 John “Eric” Miller, CC Veterans Mem. R-8 Kelly Thompson, Leander Rouse GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY R-1 Luke Buckner, Shallowater R-2 Loy Triana, Burkburnet R-3 *Zach Morgan, Rock Hill R-4 Corina Marrufo, Del Valle R-5 Josh Hill, Cy-Fair R-6 Edward DeLaCruz, Waxahachie R-7 Daniel De La Rosa, McAllen R-8 Rachel Freeman, SA Reagan FOOTBALL 6-Man Josh Stanaland, Jayton R-1 Clay White, Idalou R-2 Kyle Atwood, Holliday R-3 Kenneth Gilchrist, Prosper Richland R-4 Thad Fortune, Midland R-5 Jason Brittain, Angleton R-6 Sam Wells, Troup R-7 Travis Chrisman, Ingleside R-8 *Brad Molder, New Braunfels BOYS GOLF R-1 Chris Coursey, Lubbock Cooper R-2 Mitch Aston, Abilene Cooper R-3 Erik Peterson, Frisco Memorial R-4 *Mark Burgen, Andrews R-5 Kerry Jones, Katy Jordan R-7 Ivan Medellin, Laredo LBJ R-8 Michael Rome, Westlake GIRLS GOLF R-2 Jason Hodges - Stephenville R-3 *Sarah Fulfer, Walnut Grove R-4 Shelbye Hill, Monahans R-5 Jennifer Johnson, Klein Cain R-6 Liz Gray, Marshall R-7 Patricia Hernandez, EP Winn R-8 Russell Aki, Vandegrift BOYS SOCCER R-1 Simon Hernandez, Menterey R-2 Tony Vu, San Angleo Central R-3 Kent Ackmann, Princeton R-4 Hayden Hicks, Midland R-5 Vinny Vaccaro, Katy Freeman R-6 *Hector Peralez, Kilgore R-7 Fernando Segovia, McAllen R-8 Juan Romero, SA Southwest At-Large Jason Meekins, Katy Jordan GIRLS SOCCER R-1 Whitney Bernard, Canyon Randall R-2 Alexis Mosqueda-Walker, Brownwood R-3 Cody Moles, Celina R-4 *Stephanie Sazo, EP Del Valle R-5 Robert Courtney, Katy Jordan R-6 Andrew Procell, Corsicana R-7 Michael Gonzalez, Sinton

SOFTBALL R-1 Hannah Limmer, Liberty R-2 *Jenna Aguirre, Abilene R-3 Brady Ribinskas, Lamar R-4 Carol Vaughn, Andrews R-5 Tatiana Abrego, Mayde Creek R-6 Jordan Williams, Midway R-7 Teresa Lentz, Calallen R-8 Maggi Welham, East Central At-Large Jason Keller, Shiner TENNIS R-1 Darby Norman, Canyon Randall R-2 Brent Abilez, San Angelo Central R-3 Sylvia Sims, Frisco Heritage R-5 Daniel Marshall, A&M Consol. R-6 Charlie Sizemore, Tyler Legacy R-7 Eddie Marquez, Roma R-8 Orlando De La Fuente, Kyle Lehman At-Large *David DeLeon, Canyon BOYS TRACK & FIELD R-1 Jon Murphy, Canyon R-2 Levi Keith, Abilene Cooper R-3 Janson Head, Denton Ryan R-4 Josh Kelley, Andrews R-5 Jason Haddock, Wharton R-6 Chad Cooper, Lindale R-7 *Bob Bechtold, McAllen R-8 Jason Starnes, New Braunfels GIRLS TRACK & FIELD R-1 Crista Jones, Lub. Monterey R-2 Ty Palmer, Early R-3 *Ashley Broom, Sunnyvale R-4 Wade Floyd, Andrews R-5 Shelton Ervin, Summer Creek R-6 Blair Magee, Lindale R-7 Stacy Zamzow, Goliad R-8 Jenifer Mojica, John Marshall VOLLEYBALL R-1 Kelly Lozada, Lubbock Monterey R-2 Emily Gravitt, Abilene R-3 Jennifer Chandler, Northwest R-4 Peggy Randolph, Pecos R-5 *Jenny Adcock, Stratford R-6 Stephanie Dillard, Palestine R-7 Ariana Bermea-Mendoza, Alexander R-8 Melissa Miller, Smithson Valley At-Large Kristina Finger, D’Hanis BOYS WRESTLING R-1 Dalton Clear, Canyon R-2 Seth Bell, Henrietta R-3 *Kyle Stevens, Anna R-4 Robert Rodriguez, Burges R-5 Vinnie Lowe, Katy R-6 Eric Ware, Whitehouse R-8 Bobby Allen, Jefferson GIRLS WRESTLING R-1 Tyler Frausto, Canyon R-2 Seth Bell, Henrietta R-3 Tiffany Mangini, Flower Mound R-4 Paige Edwinson, EP Franklin R-5 *Nicholas Johnson, Cy-Woods R-7 Ronald Pratt, Rio Grande City R-8 Michael Wendel, Smithson Valley

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OCTOBER 2026

FROM THE PRESIDENT

October 2026

THSCA Coaches, Man, how time flies! Here we are, deep into the fall schedule, with district certification just weeks away and basketball, wrestling, and soccer right around the corner. Thank you to everyone who has signed up to play The Texas Way. In today's world, sportsmanship matters more than ever, and we must model it every day. I want to give a special shout-out to the coaches who hosted an Officials Appreciation Game during their first home district contests. These efforts set a positive tone for our athletes, schools, and communities and reinforce the respect that is essential to education-based athletics. Please remember that nominations for Academic All-State are now open for Volleyball, Water Polo, Team Tennis, and Cross Country, with submissions due November 1. Coaches, please take advantage of this opportunity to recognize your athletes who excel both in competition and in the classroom. Also, keep an eye out for the nomination windows for our Super Elite Teams and Coach of the Year awards. Let’s take advantage of every opportunity to recognize excellence and celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of our coaches and student athletes. Texas High School Coaches Day is November 6! Our association has made a toolkit available on the THSCA website to help schools celebrate this special occasion. We would love to see every school participate in recognizing the greatest coaches in the nation and honoring the incredible impact they make on the lives of young people. As we prepare for the legislative session this spring, we also have a very important election coming up on November 3. Coach Martin and Coach West do a tremendous job of keeping us informed about important dates, legislative developments, and the role we must play in protecting athletics as we know it in Texas public schools. As public-school coaches, we have a responsibility to advocate for our students, our schools, and the future of public education. I encourage everyone to stay informed, participate in the upcoming election, and continue championing public education and everything it has to offer. Finally, I want to draw your attention to our new initiative, “Educate. Excel. Play.”, featured on the front cover of this issue. This campaign reinforces the value of education-based athletics and the importance of protecting the community-based model that makes Texas athletics so special. Our strength in numbers is our greatest asset. Together, we can protect the integrity of our programs, address the growing influence of the transfer portal mentality, and preserve what makes Texas high school athletics a national standard. We must never forget that Texas public schools provide some of the most meaningful athletic experiences available to young people. We have outstanding professional coaches, excellent facilities, tremendous community support, and the opportunity to teach values that extend far beyond the playing field. Athletics is about so much more than winning championships or earning an opportunity to play in college. Yet, if you listen to the noise surrounding youth sports today, you might think those are the only reasons to participate. The media often focuses on five-star recruits. Parents spend tens of thousands of dollars on club and select teams, while academies promise pathways to college and professional sports, sometimes with little emphasis on the educational benefits of participation. Young athletes are increasingly told that if they are not starters, they are wasting their time and should simply quit. Public school athletics must stand for something greater than the question, “What’s in it for me?” The true value of being part of a public school team is the experience of representing your school and community while becoming part of something bigger than yourself. That is the foundation of interscholastic athletics. It is an essential part of the educational experience. Through athletics, students learn to overcome adversity, build relationships with their peers, sacrifice for the greater good, and work alongside people from different backgrounds, races, and creeds toward a common goal. They learn the importance of commitment, accountability, teamwork, and perseverance. These lessons are priceless. The vast majority of our student-athletes will not earn life-changing money playing sports in college or professionally. However, if they experience six years of athletics in Texas public schools—two years in middle school and four years in high school—the values, relationships, and life skills they develop will help prepare them for a rewarding and successful future, whatever career path they choose. That is the lasting impact of education-based athletics. As a Texas public school coach, YOU ARE POWERFUL. Our young people need us now more than ever. We have the opportunity and responsibility to shape the next generation, not only as athletes but as students, leaders, and citizens. Thank you for taking the time to read this message. More importantly, thank you for who you are, for what you do, and for the countless lives you impact every day. Let’s continue to educate, inspire, and empower our student-athletes while protecting the traditions and values that make Texas high school athletics so special.

Brent Davis, THSCA President

OCTOBER 2026

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OCTOBER 2026

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NOW HEAR THIS Obituaries

COACH DENNIS WAYNE FRANCHIONE

Dennis Wayne Franchione, affectionately known as “Coach Fran,” passed away peacefully at his home in Georgetown, Texas following a recent illness. Born at the “7 Mile Corner” in Southeast Kansas to Theda (Chapman) and Pete Franchione, he spent his early years playing ball with his nephew, Joe Clark. He later earned his degree from Pittsburg State University. Coach Fran, known for his offensive schemes, built a distinguished career as a highly respected football program turnaround specialist at the high school, NAIA, and NCAA levels. Among his many accomplishments, he transformed perennial losing programs at New Mexico and TCU into successful, formidable teams. He also stabilized the Alabama program after several seasons among the nation’s lowest rankings. His notable achievements include being named NAIA Coach of the Year twice; leading New Mexico to the Western Athletic Conference Mountain Division Championship in 1997; guiding TCU to a Sun Bowl victory over USC; and directing Alabama to an Independence Bowl win in 2001. He was also named AFCA Regional Coach of the Year in 1989 and 1990, WAC Coach of the Year twice, and was elected to the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. Coach Fran had many victories on a football field but his greatest victory was accepting Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He is preceded in death by his Parents, Pete & Theda, his sister, Shirley Clark, nephew, Joseph Clark. father-in-law, Kenny Kraus, brother-inlaw, Kent Kraus, He is survived by his wife, Kim; son, Brad; daughters, Ashley and Libby; grandchildren Preston, Easton, Wyatt, Isabella, and Gunnar; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

COACH MICHAEL GASTON

Michael Gaston, 69, of Rosenberg, Texas, passed away peacefully on September 15, 2026, at Memorial Hermann Hospital Sugar Land, surrounded by the people who loved him most. Michael was born in McAllen, Texas, to Bill and Jean Gaston and was their firstborn son. He graduated from McAllen High School in 1976 and continued his education at West Point Military Institute, Eastern New Mexico University, and Texas Tech University, where he earned both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Education. He also proudly served in the United States Army. For more than 35 years, Michael found his calling in education and athletics. He taught and coached football and track and field at schools and colleges throughout New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. He was a longtime member of the THSCA. Those who knew Michael knew that football was much more than a game to him. Through coaching, teaching, and his work with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, he encouraged, guided, and mentored countless students over the years. Michael's greatest pride, however, was his family. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather who treasured the life they built together. He and his wife, Dawn, shared 46 years of marriage. He loved his daughters, Laurie and Caitlyn, and was especially proud to be Grandpa to Jamauri. His family knew his love through the time he gave them, the stories he shared, the lessons he taught, and simply by being there.Michael was a member of Riverpoint Church in Richmond, Texas, and his faith was an important part of his life. He believed in giving back, helping others, and making a difference in the lives of young people. 10

OCTOBER 2026

Obituaries

COACH JOEL LYNN SMITH

Joel was born on May 26, 1942, in Tecumseh, Michigan, to Clara Filter Smith and Albert Frederick “Chick” Smith. His early years were spent in a simpler time, attending a one-room schoolhouse where there were only three students in his grade. He later attended Blissfield High School, where he played basketball and football. His talent on the court earned him a basketball scholarship to Texas Lutheran College. Once Joel arrived in Texas, though, basketball quickly gave way to football. He was now in Texas, after all, and football would become the calling that shaped much of his life. After college, Joel began his coaching career at Churchill HS in San Antonio. He later went to Sam Houston State, where he coached football while earning his master’s degree. After completing his graduate work, he returned to Churchill HS as a coach before moving to Weslaco, Texas, to continue his football coaching career. In 1975, Joel was hired as Head Football Coach and Athletic Director at Robert G. Cole High School in San Antonio. For Joel, coaching was never simply about the game. It was about teaching young men how to work, how to compete, how to persevere, and how to stand beside one another. He understood that the lessons learned on a football field could last a lifetime. Joel’s dedication to coaching extended well beyond the sidelines. He served a four-year term on the THSCA Board of Directors, representing Region 8. In 1993, he joined the staff at Lee HS in San Antonio as Defensive Coordinator, where he spent the next ten years continuing to mentor and develop young athletes. Even after retiring from coaching, Joel remained part of the school community as an In-School Suspension teacher, continuing to work with and influence young people. For the young men he coached, Joel was more than a coach. He was someone who believed in them, challenged them, and expected them to give their best. Many of those players grew into men who never forgot the influence he had on their lives.

PLEASE BE ADVISED: TEXAS COACH magazine will be making some changes to our delivery and publication protocols for the 24-25 school year. The THSCA Board of Directors voted to continue publishing 9 issues concurrent with the school year (SEPTEMBER 2024-MAY 2025); however, due to an extreme increase in production costs, we will only be printing and mailing 5 issues. All other issues will be delivered 100% digitally via email. Those who have chosen email delivery as their preference will continue to receive all 9 issues digitally. Those that select mail preference will receive September, November, January, March, and May issues in their mailbox and October, December, February, and April via email link. We appreciate your understanding as we know this magazine is a very important asset to the value of our association and its members!

OCTOBER 2026

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OCTOBER 2026

wit

wisdom “The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.” John Wooden "Many ideas grow better when transplanted into another mind than the one where they sprang up.” Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.

“We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now.” Martin Luther King Jr. " It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.” Napoleon Hill

"Cooperation is the thorough conviction that nobody can get there unless everybody gets there.”

"I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it." Thomas Jefferson

“The price of excellence is discipline. The cost of mediocrity is disappointment.” William Arthur Ward

Virginia Burden

“Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” Robert Louis Stevenson

“Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together. And great things are not something accidental, but must certainly be willed." Vincent Van Gogh

“When you get into a tight

“Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all.” Sam Ewing

place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then. For that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.” Harriet Beecher Stowe

OCTOBER 2026

The John A. Barclay Agency Phone: 512.323.6566

Underwitten by Carrier A XV Excellent by A.M. Best

This coverage will be in effect July 1st 2026- June 30th 2027

NEW INSURANCE PURCHASED AFTER 7/1/26 WILL COMMENCE ON THE PAYMENT RECEIVED DATE. THIS COVERAGE IS NOT RETROACTIVE.

PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE WHAT THE POLICY COVERS:

COVERAGE A - LIABILITY INSURANCE Up to $2,000,000 per insured per occurrence/$ 3,000,000 per occurrence, plus the cost of defense, investigation and legal fees • Applies in the event a member is alleged to have caused injury or damage to others while performing his/her professional duties • Errors and omissions insurance for claims for damages arising out of a member’s duties as a professional educator, including all defense cost Note: The duty of the insurer to defend extends even to groundless, false and frivolous suits and accusations. COVERAGE B - REIMBURSEMENT OF ATTORNEY FEES Up to $10,000 per insured per occurrence • The policy provides reimbursement of attorney fees in a broad range of situations not included under Coverage A. This includes allegations of criminal and/or sexual misconduct and employment related actions

AM I ELIGIBLE FOR COVERAGE & HOW DO I PURCHASE?

The Texas High School Coaches Association offers a Coaches Professional Liability Insurance option to eligible members with coverage beginning July 1, 2026. The THSCA has chosen the John A. Barclay Agency, Inc. to provide this coverage to our members. This plan was devised to offer liability insurance and legal assistance to THSCA members. In order to be eligible for this coverage you must meet the following criteria: •

• Your THSCA Membership must be current for the school year in which the coverage is effective – 7/1/26 - 6/30/27.

other professional rights and duties.

• PROFESSIONAL, AFFLIATE and LIFE members are eligible only if they meet the criteria above. This insurance is not available to STUDENT or RETIRED members.

or resignation, the matter in dispute must be resolved in favor of the member to qualify for the full reimbursement of $10,000. However, $2,000 of this amount is available for initial consultation and research, whether or not the member prevails, to determine if there exists a reasonable chance of the case being resolved in the member’s favor.

If you choose to purchase this insurance coverage and do not meet the criteria for eligibility, this coverage will not be valid. This coverage will be in effect July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Insurance purchased after July 1, 2026 will commence on the payment received date. This insurance coverage is not retroactive.

COVERAGE C - BAIL BONDS Up to $2,000 premium on bail bonds

Payment should be made directly to the THSCA. The total 26/27 annual premium for the insurance coverage will be $65.00 per member.

WHAT THE POLICY PAYS:

COVERAGE A: Up to $2,000,000 per insured per ccurrence/$3,000,000 per occurrence, plus the cost of defense, investigation and legal fees. COVERAGE B: Up to $10,000 per claim per Insured. Coverage for criminal proceedings and /or sexual misconduct limited to $10,000 aggregate per policy term. COVERAGE C: Up to $2,000 premium on bail bonds.

COVERAGE FEATURES:

Criminal/Sexual Misconduct Allegations

The policy provides reimbursement of attorney fees up to $10,000 under Coverage B if the educator is acting in the scope of his/her duties.

Corporal Punishment

Corporal punishment is covered under Coverage A (Liability) if administered according to the rules of the jurisdiction in which the school is located.

Outside Activity

As long as the educator is within the scope of his/her professional duties, the policy covers liability for injury to students and others while the educator is conducting visits to industrial and commercial establishments, entertainment automobile, watercraft, & aircraft exclusions

Coverage B

Reimbursement of Attorney Fees - Such reimbursement as is afforded the professional rights and duties is assured under the policy and is not contingent on the approval of a board or review committee, as might be the case where the only available assistance is from a defense fund.

Annual Insurance Premium: State Taxes and Fees (4.89%) Association Administrative Fee: TOTAL 2024/25 Annual Premium:

$ 57.00 $ 2.79 $ 5.21 $ 65.00

Checks should be made payable to: THSCA Mail payment to: THSCA, P.O. Box 1138, San Marcos, TX 78667 DO NOT MAIL PAYMENT to the Barclay Agency.

Eligible members will be able to purchase the Coaches Professional Liability Insurance on the THSCA website, or by selecting to purchase the coverage on the THSCA membership application form and submitting it by fax, email or mail to the THSCA Office with payment. NOTE: In order to be eligible to purchase the coverage your membership must be current for the same year of policy coverage. (7/1/26-6/30/27))

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF Do you have the financial ability to defend yourself in the event of claim? Do you have the expertise to find the best legal counsel for your situation? THIS IS NOTA CERTIFIED COPY OF THE POLICY BUTA SUMMARY AND IS PROVIDED FOR REFERENCE ONLY. ALL COVERAGE PROVIDED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE POLICY IN THE EVENT OF A LOSS OR OCCURRENCE IS SUBJECT TO THE EXCLUSIONS AND CONDITIONS CONTAINED IN THE MASTER POLICY ON FILE WITH THE POLICYHOLDER, INCLUDING ALL AMENDMENTS, ENDORSEMENTS, AND ADDITIONS. QUESTIONS REGARDING SPECIFIC INSURANCE POLICY COVERAGE SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO: The John A. Barclay Agency, Inc. 512.323.6566

OCTOBER3/6/2026 2026

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THE

ATHLETIC

TRAINER SHORTAGE:

A LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE FOR TEXAS SCHOOLS

BY ISRAEL J. PEÑA, PHD, LAT, ATC, CES

CANYON LAKE HS - COMAL ISD | HEAD ATHLETIC TRAINER Across Texas, athletic directors, principals, and school district leaders are facing an increasingly familiar challenge: finding and retaining qualified athletic trainers. Vacancies remain open longer. Applicant pools are smaller. Experienced candidates are becoming increasingly difficult to recruit. While many districts continue to attract newly certified athletic trainers, finding professionals with more than 10 years of experience has become increasingly rare. The immediate conclusion is often that Texas is facing an athletic trainer shortage. While that assessment is likely accurate, the more important question may be why the shortage exists. For years, discussions surrounding the athletic training workforce have focused on recruitment. How do we attract more students into athletic training programs? How do we increase awareness of the profession? How do we produce more athletic trainers? These are important questions, but they may overlook a more significant issue. What if the shortage is not simply a recruitment problem? What if this is a retention problem? Recent workforce trends and findings from my doctoral research examining career longevity among Secondary School Athletic Trainers suggest that the future of athletic healthcare in Texas secondary schools may depend less on producing more athletic trainers and more on creating environments where athletic trainers can build long, rewarding careers.

Why Athletic Trainers Matter

Athletic trainers serve as the frontline healthcare providers for student-athletes. They are responsible for injury evaluation, rehabilitation, emergency response, return-to-play decisions, concussion management, heat

illness prevention, and communication among parents, physicians, coaches, and school personnel. When an athletic trainer leaves a district, schools lose far more than a position. They lose clinical expertise, institutional knowledge, continuity of care, and a trusted healthcare professional who often serves as the bridge between athletics and healthcare. For athletic directors and administrators, vacancies are not simply staffing challenges; they are healthcare and risk-management challenges.

The Missing Middle

One of the most concerning aspects of the current athletic trainer situation is the apparent absence of experienced professionals within the workforce. Most professions rely on a progression from novice to expert. Young professionals enter the workforce, gain experience, mentor younger colleagues, and eventually become leaders within their organizations. However, many athletic administrators report difficulty finding athletic trainers with 10 or more years of experience. Findings from a recent Athletic Trainer Applicant Questionnaire reinforce this concern. Respondents consistently reported that applicant pools are increasingly composed of early-career athletic trainers, while experienced candidates are becoming more difficult to find. Many schools are receiving applications primarily from recent graduates or athletic trainers with fewer than five years of experience. This trend suggests that the challenge may not be a lack of individuals entering the profession but rather a decline in the number who remain long enough to become veteran practitioners. As experienced athletic OCTOBER 2026

trainers leave the profession or transition into alternative settings, schools lose not only healthcare providers but also mentors, leaders, and institutional knowledge. The result is a growing gap between newly certified athletic trainers entering the workforce and the experienced professionals needed to support and develop them. This raises an important question: Where are the veteran athletic trainers? To better understand this issue, my dissertation examined athletic trainers who had remained in the secondary school setting for fifteen years or longer. Rather than asking why athletic trainers leave, the study asked: Why do some athletic trainers stay? The findings revealed that athletic trainers with long careers experienced many of the same stressors commonly reported across the profession, including long hours, staffing shortages, communication challenges, work-family conflict, and increasing professional responsibilities. The difference was not the absence of stress. The difference was the presence of support systems and adaptive coping strategies. Participants consistently identified supportive administrators, family support, positive peer relationships, professional growth opportunities, faith and spirituality, physical activity, and healthy boundaries as contributors to career longevity. These findings suggest that career longevity is not accidental. It is the result of both personal resilience and organizational support.

Administrative Support and Work-Life Balance

Among all themes identified in the study, few emerged as consistently important as supportive leadership. Athletic trainers repeatedly described athletic directors, principals, and district leaders as critical contributors to professional satisfaction and career longevity. Interestingly, support was rarely defined solely by salary. Instead, athletic trainers described support as: •

Being trusted to make medical decisions

•

Having their expertise respected

•

Being included in athlete safety discussions

OCTOBER 2026

•

Receiving support during difficult situations

•

Having clear communication with supervisors

•

Feeling valued as healthcare professionals

Conversely, environments characterized by poor communication, role ambiguity, or lack of support amplified occupational stress. Another recurring theme was work-life balance. Athletic trainers routinely work evenings, weekends, holidays, and during summer activities. Increasingly, applicants ask questions about family time, flexibility, travel expectations, and workload. These questions are not signs of decreased commitment; they are questions about sustainability. Today's professionals are evaluating whether a position can be maintained throughout their careers. Athletic trainers who sustained long careers frequently discussed learning how to establish boundaries, prioritize responsibilities, and maintain healthy relationships outside of work. For administrators, work-life balance should not be viewed as an employee perk. It should be viewed as a workforce sustainability strategy.

Retention Is the New Recruitment

When vacancies occur, districts naturally focus on recruitment. Yet recruitment and retention are inseparable. Every resignation creates a vacancy. Every vacancy requires recruitment. Every unsuccessful search increases pressure on remaining staff. The most successful districts in the future may not necessarily be those that recruit the most athletic trainers. They may be the districts that lose the fewest. Retention preserves institutional knowledge, strengthens continuity of care, improves athlete safety, and creates positive organizational cultures that attract future applicants. Simply put, retaining experienced athletic trainers may be one of the most effective recruitment strategies available.

What Texas School Leaders Can Do

The encouraging news is that many factors influencing career longevity are within the control of school leadership. Athletic directors and administrators should evaluate staffing models to ensure healthcare demands align with available resources and workload expectations are realistic. Schools should invest in mentorship opportunities, particularly for earlycareer athletic trainers, and provide opportunities for professional growth and leadership development. Athletic trainers should be included in discussions 21

involving athlete safety, emergency preparedness, concussion management, heat illness prevention, and risk management. They should be viewed as healthcare professionals whose expertise contributes directly to student safety and organizational decision-making. Finally, districts should recognize that workforce expectations continue to evolve. Policies supporting professional growth, workplace flexibility, mentorship, and family balance are becoming increasingly important for attracting and retaining talented healthcare professionals.

A Leadership Opportunity

The athletic trainer shortage poses challenges for schools throughout Texas but also offers an opportunity. Rather than viewing vacancies solely as hiring problems, school leaders can examine the organizational factors that influence career longevity and workforce sustainability. The future of athletic healthcare in Texas secondary schools may depend less on producing more athletic trainers and more on creating environments where athletic trainers can envision building careers lasting twenty years or more.

The next time a vacancy occurs, perhaps the most important question is not: "How do we fill this position?" but rather: "What would make an athletic trainer want to stay here for the next twenty years?" The answer to that question may ultimately determine the future of athletic healthcare, studentathlete safety, and workforce stability in Texas schools.

About the Author: Israel J. Peña, PhD, LAT, ATC, CES, is a secondary school athletic trainer, educator, and researcher with more than 25 years of experience. He currently serves as Head Athletic Trainer at Canyon Lake High School and as an Athletic Training Preceptor for Texas State University. His doctoral research at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions examined coping strategies, stress management, and career longevity among Secondary School Athletic Trainers.

BEYOND THE GAME TEAM AWARD The Grant Teaff Foundation will award $30,000 in grants to Texas high school athletic teams. SCAN THE QR CODE OR VISIT GRANTTEAFF.ORG TO NOMINATE YOUR SCHOOL UPON COMPLETION OF JUDGES’ SCORING, THE HIGHEST TEAM WILL RECEIVE A $5,000 GRANT, WITH ADDITIONAL GRANTS OF $2,000 AND $1,000.

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NO PURCHASE, PAYMENT, OR SALES ACTIVITY NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. The BSN SPORTS $10,000 Team Spirit Sweepstakes is open from October 1, 2026, at 12:00:01 a.m. ET through November 30, 2026, at 11:59:59 p.m. ET. Eligible public or private high school sports teams, youth or club/select sports teams, and collegiate sports teams must be located in the forty-nine (49) United States (excluding New York) or the District of Columbia. Individuals acting on behalf of a Team in connection with the Sweepstakes must be (i) legal residents of the 50 U.S. or D.C., (ii) at least the age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence, (iii) an administrator, teacher, coach, or director affiliated and in good standing with an eligible Team, and (iv) authorized by the Team to act on its behalf. During the Sweepstakes Period, an eligible Team will automatically receive one (1) Entry after generating at least $1,000 in MTS sales and one (1) additional Entry after generating at least $2,000 in MTS sales. Separately, an eligible Team will automatically receive one (1) Entry after generating at least $1,000 in MTS+ sales and one (1) additional Entry after generating at least $2,000 in MTS+ sales. A Team may receive one (1) additional Entry through a qualifying social media post as described in the Official Rules. Alternatively, an Authorized Representative may enter on behalf of a Team for free at https://www.bsnsports.com/contest/team-shop/team-spirit; a valid free online entry will provide the Team with enough Entries to bring its total number of Entries to five (5), taking into account any Entries already credited through other entry methods. Limit five (5) Entries per Team across all Entry methods. One (1) verified winning Team will receive a $10,000 BSN SPORTS credit (ARV: $10,000). Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible Entries received. Void in New York and where otherwise prohibited or restricted by law. Official Rules: https://www.bsnsports.com/contest/team-shop/team-spirit

OCTOBER 2026

Do your Homework.

THEN VOTE! VOTE PURPLE F O R P U B L I C E D U C AT I O N

VOTE VOTE PURPLE

PURPLE

THSCA VOTES FOR PUBLIC EDUCATIO

THSCA VOTES FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.

VOTE PURPLE F O R P U B L I C E D U C AT I O N

a letter From Coach Joe Martin thsca executive director

As coaches and educators, we spend a lot of time telling young people to be prepared, do their homework and make good decisions based on the information in front of them. As we head toward another important election, I’m asking Texas coaches to do the same. There are a lot of issues competing for our attention, but decisions made by our elected leaders have a direct impact on our public schools—and ultimately on the students, coaches and communities we serve. Before you cast your vote, take the time to research the candidates and understand where they stand on public education. Don’t rely on a commercial, a mailer, a social media post or simply the letter next to someone’s name on the ballot. Ask questions. Look at voting records. Read candidates’ positions. Determine who will best represent your school and your community. There are several issues in particular that deserve our attention: • Public school funding: Will districts have the resources and flexibility necessary to address rising costs such as transportation, insurance, staffing and facility maintenance? • School choice and vouchers: What impact could the expansion and cost of these programs have on local public school budgets and the students they serve? • Property taxes and local control: How could proposed changes affect districts’ ability to fund dayto-day operations, maintain facilities, pass bonds and plan for future growth? THSCA has more than 28,000 members across Texas. That represents a tremendous opportunity— not to tell coaches who to vote for, but to encourage coaches to be informed and engaged in decisions that will shape the future of public education in our state. We have compiled resources and trusted sources to help you research the candidates and the issues. Use the QR codes and links provided on this page, do your homework and make an informed decision before you head to the polls. 28

OCTOBER 2026

We often talk about the importance of “Voting Purple”—looking beyond party lines and supporting leaders who value public education and understand the needs of the students, coaches, schools and communities they represent. At THSCA, our mission is Helping Coaches Help Kids. The decisions made at the ballot box can directly impact our ability to do just that. Being an informed voter is one more way we can advocate for the schools, programs and young people we serve every day. Research the candidates. Know the issues. Vote for the people you believe will best serve your public schools and your community.

helpful links when researching candidates: Track THSCA Legislative Action HERE - www.thsca.com/legislature

www.vote411.org Comprehensive voting information. Check what’s on your local ballot, find your polling places, and compare candidates side by side.

www.texasscorecard.com Check out how representatives have voted in the 89th Texas Legislative session to help you decide.

www.tcta.org/texasteachersvote Find information about candidates who are running in your district, including stances on key issues impacting education.

www.texasmatters.org/ Nonpartisan site that offers candidate and issues guides to help you determine where candidates stand on issues like education.

www.texastribune.org/2026-vote/ Find voting guides, non partisan articles, and even a quiz to see which candidates positions on key issues line up with yours. OCTOBER 2026

January 29-31, 2027 Clinic Highlights

Hotel Information

 Features only high school coaches as speakers  18 Lectures given by top high school football coaches from Texas  Friday Night OL and DB Chalk Talk  Saturday Night Small School Session  A discount to Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World for each coach at the clinic (Good on selected items for the duration of the clinic.)  The Embassy Suites Hotel is located adjacent to Bass Pro Shops and in close proximity to Grapevine Mills Mall and the Toyota Music Factory  Coaches Devotional Sunday morning  A clinic t-shirt for the first 700 coaches in attendance (Sponsored by The Performance Course)  Cash and Bass Pro Shops gear given away after each lecture Sunday  $1000 Cash door prize after the last lecture Sunday  “Texas Hold-Em” Tournament Friday night  50 minute lectures and 45 minute breakout sessions  Job Board available

Clinic Headquarters:  Embassy Suites Outdoor World at D/FW Airport 2401 Bass Pro Drive, Grapevine, TX 76051 Phone (972) 724-2600 or (800) EMBASSY  To receive the special room rate of $169, make your reservation by January 4 and state you are attending the DFW Coaches Clinic. Embassy Suites Hotel provides a complimentary cooked to order breakfast and happy hour each day to every coach staying at the hotel. Each room comfortably sleeps four.

Registration  $80 registration fee if mailed in by January 22 ($90 after January 22, no refunds after this date)  To pre-register, please send the registration form and a check payable to: DFW Coaches Clinic 30801 Beck Road Bulverde, Texas 78163 Check our website for clinic updates or to register online

www.coachesclinic.net

Largest High School Only Football Clinic in Texas!

E-mail — coachesclinic@yahoo.com

@dfwclinic

" —————————————————————————————————————— DFW Coaches Clinic Registration Form

Name:

School:

School Phone:

Address:

City:

State:

Zip:

dfwclinic The Largest High School only Football Clinic in TEXAS! Contact 830.708.9132 214.356.4730

E-mail: Enclosed is my check for $______ covering ______ coaches @ $80 per coach. ($90 after January 22, no refunds after this date) Make check out to DFW Coaches Clinic and mail to the address listed or register online

OCTOBER 2026

FROM "ODA" TO A DYNASTY:

A FATHER, A DAUGHTER, & AN

UNLIKELY RUN IN CELINA SOCCER By: Justin Prescott | Assistant Coach, Celina ISD In Texas high school soccer, where competition is fierce and dynasties are rare, sustaining excellence is one of the most difficult feats in athletics. Building a program that wins once is an accomplishment. Winning twice signals strength. But stacking championships year after year—while expectations rise and the target on your back grows—places a team in a category of its own. At Celina, that kind of sustained success didn’t just happen. It was built—often in unexpected ways— through a story that blends family, humility, and a willingness to embrace the unfamiliar. At the center of it is myself, assistant coach Justin Prescott, when I accepted the job at Celina I had just married Ryleigh’s mom, Ryleigh had spent her entire life and soccer career in Keller. So the move to Celina wasn’t one she initially welcomed. It meant leaving behind familiarity, teammates, and a place she had always known.

But change has a way of opening doors. Ryleigh entered her freshman year already seasoned from years of club soccer, having played since the age of five. She stepped into high school competition ready— and quickly proved she belonged, earning a spot on varsity as a freshman. Meanwhile, my path to the pitch was far less conventional. After a decade of coaching football and track, I was pulled into my head coach’s office one day and given a directive that would change everything. “I need you to coach girls soccer,” I was told. “You’re going to be at the games anyway.” My response was honest: “All I know about soccer is what I’ve picked up from a few club games.” The answer came back just as direct: “You’ll learn. You will be fine.” It was the true definition of ODA—Other Duties Assigned. So I took it. Reluctantly. Walking into a program that had just won a state championship, I assumed the players would have little interest in listening to a first-year soccer coach still figuring out the basics myself. I was to coach at the JV level and be a varsity assistant, even thinking he might get the chance to coach my daughter there. Instead, Ryleigh bypassed JV entirely and landed on varsity,

OCTOBER 2026

leaving me to find my footing without her as a safety net. Those early days weren’t smooth. Players joked about whether I might try to call a timeout—something that doesn’t even exist in soccer. I would later laugh, giving myself the tongue-in-cheek title of “YouTube Coach of the Year” as he worked to close the knowledge gap, studying the game however he could. Then something shifted. An injured player, sidelined with a bad ankle, essentially became an extension of the coaching staff— helping communicate, reinforce ideas, and bridge the gap between coach and players. It was a blessing in disguise that helped stabilize a season that could have easily unraveled. Year one, by my own admission, was messy. But it was also foundational.

Together, our father and daughter relationship became part of something larger than just us. Our relationship added a unique layer to the program’s identity. Film sessions, practices, and game plans weren’t just team responsibilities—they were part of everyday life. The line between family and soccer blurred, creating a dynamic built on trust, love, and shared purpose. Still, the success was never about one player or one coach. Those championships were the product of a complete program—players embracing roles, coaches reinforcing standards, and a community that believed in what was being built. The dynasty wasn’t driven by talent alone, but by buy-in at every level. Looking back, what started as an assignment I didn’t want became one of the most meaningful chapters of my career. There’s a lesson in that. For young coaches stepping into unfamiliar territory, my advice is simple: take every assignment and turn it into a journey. Whether it’s something you wanted or not, the outcome will be defined by the work you choose to put into it. At Celina, that mindset helped transform uncertainty into excellence.

What followed was anything but. Over the next several seasons, Celina didn’t just maintain its standard—it elevated it. The program continued to meet the highest expectations, navigating roster turnover, coaching transitions, and increasingly competitive opponents. Through it all, the culture held: accountability, resilience, family and faith. And on the field, Ryleigh emerged as one of the defining players in program history. Her impact was most visible when it mattered most. In back-to-back state championship games, she earned MVP honors—something no other player in UIL girls soccer had accomplished at that level. Under pressure, on the biggest stage, she delivered with consistency that separated her from even elite competition. OCTOBER 2026

And in the process, it created more than just wins. It built a legacy—one that ties a father and daughter to a run of success that stands as one of the most unique stories in Texas high school soccer being the only father and daughter to win 4 consecutive UIL State Championships. But most important is the relationship I have developed with not only my daughter but the rest of the girls on the team, my bonus daughters as I call them, mean way more than any ring or trophy ever could. As my grandfather, who was a coach as well, once said, “Rings don’t carry your coffin”

Every Friday night, every early-morning practice, every conversation in a coach’s office about grades, goals, and growing up is where Texas education-based athletics does its work. For generations, Texas coaches have shaped young people who go on to lead in their families, careers, and communities. Yet too often, that impact has gone untold. As coaches, you are trained to let results on the scoreboard speak for the quality of your program, while the deeper story of students who have learned discipline, discovered what they were capable of being, and the role of mentoring has remained on the sideline. However, the landscape in Texas high school athletics is changing, and families are facing more choices than ever before. In today’s environment Texas high school coaches need to be clear and confident in sharing why their programs make a difference and how that difference shows up on and off the playing field. That is the purpose of The Gold Standard. Built on our belief that Texas education-based athletics should be championed around Educate.Excel.Play. This is our common language and set of guiding principles for telling the story of Texas education-based athletics 34

and for leading with purpose in our schools and communities. What follows outlines that philosophy, the leadership commitments that bring it to life, and the five principles at its foundation. A coach’s influence reaches beyond the final score. The daily pursuit of excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in community helps to develop the total student-athlete and prepares them for a lifetime of success. The Gold Standard gives our work a shared purpose and a clear voice. Texas Education-based athletics are the Gold Standard for developing young people.

OCTOBER 2026

At the Texas High School Coaches Association, we believe the daily pursuit of excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in the community develops the Total Athlete and prepares students for success in life. Educate. Excel. Play. defines why we exist. It reflects our commitment to empowering students to grow through academics, athletics, and leadership. The Gold Standard defines what we believe. It articulates the principles that make Texas education-based athletics the nation's premier model for shaping the Total Athlete and preparing young people for success in life. More than a messaging platform, The Gold Standard is a philosophy of leadership. It gives coaches a shared language to tell their story, reinforces the value of education-based athletics, and empowers them to lead with confidence in their schools and communities.

athletes and families make informed decisions throughout the recruiting process. • Protect the Gold Standard by prioritizing competition among education-based athletic programs and making scheduling decisions that reinforce the values and mission of Texas public school athletics. These commitments are grounded in the 5 Principles of Texas Education-Based Athletics. These are the enduring beliefs that define who we are, guide how we lead, and explain why Texas education-based athletics are the Gold Standard.

The 5 Principles of Texas Education-Based Athletics Principle #1

The Front Porch to the Community Texas education-based athletics are more than competition- they are the front porch to the community. They bring together students, families, educators, and neighbors around a shared purpose, creating an educational experience where academics and athletics work together to develop leadership, character, and the Total Athlete. Rooted in tradition, accountability, and an enduring educational mission, the Texas model provides an experience no transactional system can replicate.

That philosophy comes to life through four leadership commitments: • Champion Your Program by sharing its impact with confidence and pride. • Educate Families about the long-term value of education-based athletics, complete person development and life beyond the game • Guide the Journey by helping studentOCTOBER 2026

Gold Standard Evidence: 66.77% of Texas studentathletes take honors, Advanced Placement, or International Baccalaureate classes and 83% say their community comes out to support school athletics.

athlete, it's to develop a better person. Share how the daily connection between academics, athletics, and mentorship prepares students for success in school, sport, and life.

Leadership in Action: Champion the value of your program. Tell your story with confidence and reinforce why education-based athletics in Texas remain the Gold Standard without giving unnecessary credibility to models that place transactions ahead of student development.

Principle #3

Real-World Readiness

Principle #2

Develop The Complete Person Education-based athletics don't just develop better athletes, they develop better people. Within a Texas public school, academics, athletics, and daily school life work together to shape disciplined, resilient, and compassionate young adults. Guided by educators who know them both inside and outside the classroom, students build the character, confidence, and life skills that prepare them for success long after the final whistle. Gold Standard Evidence: 61% of Texas high school student-athletes gain leadership and teamwork experiences in extracurricular activities outside of athletics, and 62% are involved in fine arts. Leadership in Action: Help families understand that the goal isn't simply to develop a better 36

Education-based athletics prepare students for far more than competition—they prepare them for life. Every day, student-athletes learn to lead, communicate, solve problems, and work alongside teammates from different backgrounds and perspectives in pursuit of a common goal. These experiences develop the confidence, resilience, and interpersonal skills that translate directly to success in college, careers, and their communities. Gold Standard Evidence: 82% of Texas studentathletes say they've already applied lessons learned through athletics in the classroom, at work, or in other areas of life. Leadership in Action: Help families see that recruiting is one milestone—not the ultimate destination. Guide student-athletes toward opportunities that align with their academic, athletic, and personal growth so they are prepared for success long after their playing careers end. OCTOBER 2026

Principle #4

people thrive. Their commitment extends beyond wins and losses because their success is measured by the lives they help shape

Texas education-based athletics develop the Total Athlete by encouraging broad athletic experiences instead of early specialization. Through multiple sports, diverse coaching, and varied competitive experiences, student-athletes build adaptability, resilience, leadership, and athletic versatility. The result is a healthier, more complete competitor prepared for success in sport and throughout life.

Gold Standard Evidence: 91.31% of Texas studentathletes say their coach regularly checks on their academic progress, demonstrating that Texas coaches are invested in developing students, not just athletes.

The Total Athlete

Gold Standard Evidence: "The multiple sports they play, the multiple positions they play, creates a little diversity in their game. I think that always yields to a better athlete." - Mike Elko, Texas A&M Head Football Coach

Leadership in Action: Embrace your role as both educator and mentor. Build strong relationships with families, champion the value of educationbased athletics, and help every student-athlete succeed in the classroom, in competition, and in life.

Leadership in Action: Help families understand that long-term development produces better outcomes than early specialization. Encourage experiences that build healthier, more adaptable, and more complete athletes, prepared for success on the field and beyond.

A Unified Standard, A Clear Voice Together, Educate. Excel. Play. and The Gold Standard provides a complete framework for Texas education-based athletics. They give us:

Principle #5 Coaches: Educators. Mentors. Advocates. Texas high school coaches are more than instructors. They are certified educators who invest in the whole student. They teach in the classroom, lead on the field, monitor academic progress, and provide the daily mentorship, structure, and accountability that help young OCTOBER 2026

• A purpose that defines why we exist. • A philosophy that defines what we believe. • Five principles that guide how we lead. • Leadership commitments that bring those beliefs to life every day. This is how we move from being a “silent sideline” to a proud, visible, trusted, and influential force in every community. 37

When coaches live these principles every day, they do more than protect the Texas model. They strengthen it, elevate it, and ensure future generations experience the same transformational opportunities that have made Texas educationbased athletics the Gold Standard. The Gold Standard is a call to action that is asking every Texas coach to step forward as a visible, trusted voice for the value of educationbased athletics. We need coaches to: • Tell your program’s story with intention. Share the academic achievements, leadership growth, and community connections happening in your program, not just the wins. The data is on your side: 2/3 of Texas studentathletes take advanced coursework, and more than 9 in 10 say their coach regularly checks on their academic progress. • Be a resource for families. Parents want what is best for their children. Help them see the long-term value of multi-sport participation, complete student-athlete development that includes academics, and the life skills that last long after the final whistle. • Guidance to what is possible. Coaches should help student-athletes and families see high

school as one milestone on a larger journey, and help guide them towards opportunities that fit their academic, athletic, personal, and professional goals • Making decisions that reflect your values. From scheduling to program priorities, choose paths that reinforce the mission of Texas public school athletics. • Own your role as an educator. Your influence in the classroom, on the field/court, and in the lives of your students is the heart of what makes Educate. Excel. Play. possible. Develop the whole student-athlete, not just the part that contributes to the score. The Gold Standard asks coaches to speak openly about what they already do every day. When coaches use a shared language and stand behind shared principles, their collective voice becomes powerful. The opportunity before Texas coaches is clear: move to the front of the conversation about education-based athletics. Live and champion The Gold Standard. Champion it so that the next generation of Texas studentathletes can experience everything that has made Texas education-based athletics The Gold Standard. Coaches: Educate. Excel. Play.

OCTOBER 2026

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thsca Super Elite Teams and Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Coach of the Year It's time to start nominating for

The THSCA Super Elite Teams consist of high school players nominated by members of the Texas High

School Coaches Association. The player must meet the THSCA award criteria to be nominated. The award recognizes student athletes across the state of Texas for their exemplary athletic achievement in their respective sport. (Do you have highlights of athletes you think are Super Elite? We would love to see you post them on social media and tag us @THSCAcoaches and #SuperEliteTeam.)

All eligible nominations will be collected and sent to the the S.E.T. (Super Elite Teams) Committees to be evaluated. The S.E.T. Committee will submit the finalists to the THSCA Advisory Committee for their respective sport for final approval and decision on who has made the Super Elite team in each classification. Super Elite teams will be recognized after the state championships have been announced. See the chart below for nomination windows for each sport.

CRITERIA FOR NOMINATION: 1. Be of good moral character 2. Varsity sports only 3. Have been a member of the team in good standing at the time of nomination 4. Player has excelled as an elite member in their respective sport

SUPER ELITE TEAMS BY THE NUMBERS: ► There will be 101 Super Elite Teams covering all 23 sports throughout the state. ► There will be over 1,800 student-athletes recognized on the Super Elite Teams. ► We will have 808 Coaches (on S.E.T. Committees) that will select the Super Elite Teams.

Super Elite Team Timeline by Sport: SPORT

NOMINATIONS OPEN

NOMINATIONS CLOSE

Team Tennis

15-Oct

3-Nov

Water Polo*

15-Oct

3-Nov

Cross Country*

15-Oct

10-Nov

Volleyball

3-Nov

1-Dec

Football

1-Dec

9-Jan

Wrestling*

9-Feb

23-Feb

Swim/Dive*

2-Feb

2-Mar

Girls Basketball

24-Feb

23-Mar

Boys Basketball

24-Feb

23-Mar

Soccer*

30-Mar

20-Apr

Golf*

9-Apr

14-May

Track & Field*

4-May

21-May 14-May

Tennis*

27-Apr

Softball

18-May

4-Jun

Baseball

18-May

11-Jun

* Indicates nomination window applies for both boys and girls teams in that particular sport.

OCTOBER 2026

THSCA along with our partners at Texas Farm Bureau Insurance, want to give recognition to our Texas high school coaches for their accomplishments on and off the field/court. We will be presenting head coach and assistant coach of the year awards in every sport and every THSCA region. Awards will include:

Award Requirements:

Nomination Process:

The nomination process will be open to every member of THSCA after the state championships in each sport. Each THSCA member is offered a chance to nominate a head coach and/or assistant coach to submit through the member portal. Nominations will cease after two weeks. Nominations will then be handed over to the Awards Committee for scoring (by region). SPORT

NOMINATIONS OPEN

NOMINATIONS CLOSE

Team Tennis

15-Oct

3-Nov

Water Polo*

15-Oct

3-Nov

Cross Country*

15-Oct

10-Nov

Volleyball

3-Nov

1-Dec

Football

1-Dec

9-Jan

Wrestling*

9-Feb

23-Feb

Swim/Dive*

2-Feb

2-Mar

Girls Basketball

24-Feb

23-Mar

Boys Basketball

24-Feb

23-Mar

Soccer*

30-Mar

20-Apr

Golf*

9-Apr

14-May

Track & Field*

4-May

21-May 14-May

Tennis*

27-Apr

Softball

18-May

4-Jun

Baseball

18-May

11-Jun

* Indicates nomination window applies for both boys and girls teams in that particular sport.

OCTOBER 2026

RUN AT EM':

FINDING THE ONE MESSAGE THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING

By Ty palmer | early isd - Thsca track advisory committee member Every coach is searching for an edge. We spend hours studying schemes, asking questions, designing workouts, and analyzing film, always hoping to find the next thing that will give our athletes a leg up. We search for better drills, better practice plans, better technology, and better techniques. But after fifteen years of coaching, I’ve become convinced that the most important thing a coach can build isn’t a workout. It’s a belief. Workouts build athletes, but beliefs build people and the culture of your program. Looking back, I didn’t want my athletes to remember endless 200s, wickets, or weight room sessions. Those things matter, but they aren’t the reason I coach. I wanted them to remember who they became. That realization forced me to ask myself a difficult question: What was our program’s identity? Every successful program has an identity, whether you are intentionally creating one or not. Some programs become known for toughness. Others for discipline. Others for speed. But the strongest cultures aren’t built around what a team does. They’re built around what a team believes. Before this season, I knew our girls knew how to work hard, but I wasn’t sure they knew exactly who we were. I wasn’t sure I knew either, and that reflection stings as a coach. That question sent me searching for one message simple enough to remember, deep enough to believe, and strong enough to survive disappointments that were sure to come during a long track season.

Don’t Build a Slogan. Build a Belief. Every season coaches choose themes for their teams. Some print them on shirts. Some hang banners in the locker room. Most are forgotten by district. Why? Because slogans motivate and motivation fades. Beliefs transform a person and how they view themselves and their team. 44

I wasn’t looking for something catchy. I was searching for something true that would resound with our girls. Coach Derek Shelby at Paradise High School pointed me to 1 Samuel 17:48 where David hurried and ran toward the battle line to meet Goliath. “As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.” For years I thought the story of David and Goliath was about the stone and a battle. As I re-read and thought about the story I realized it was really about the first step. Before there was a sling. Before there was victory. Before Goliath fell. David ran. Those three words became our message: Run At Em’.

One Message Is Enough. Culture isn’t built by constantly changing the message. Culture is built by relentlessly repeating the right one. There is no perfect universal message. You have to know your team and program to know what message and belief is needed for your team. At our first practice this past season, I gathered our girls around the 40-second clock where we always meet before we start and introduced Run At Em’. Every athlete received a very simple bracelet with the words Run At Em’ and Lady Horns Track and Field. It was designed to be minimal. I wanted them to realize who we were and what we believed in as a program. Quietly I prayed, “Lord, don’t let this be another theme that disappears after two weeks.” From that day forward the message appeared in weekly letters I sent the girls, practice conversations, pre-meet talks, and post-meet reflections. They didn’t always hear the same words, but the message revolved around the same concept. Run at your challenges, face the adversity, and compete for something bigger than yourself. OCTOBER 2026

Consistency Creates Culture. Eventually the girls stopped hearing the message. They started believing it. Somewhere during the season our girls stopped comparing themselves to Goliath. They started identifying with David. Not because David was stronger. Not because David was more talented. But because there was nothing extraordinary about him apart from the God he trusted. They didn’t simply remember the story. They had found a story to believe in, and the message and culture were taking root. Athletes don’t rally around slogans. They rally around stories. David gave our girls a story they could step into. They could see themselves in David, understanding his mindset and his ability to run at a challenge and not back down from it.

You’ll Know It’s Working When They Say It Without You. One of the hardest parts of building a program’s culture is wondering if your message is actually taking root. Every coach has asked the question at some point, “How will I know if it’s working?” The easy cliché answer is: You’ll know when you know. The better answer is this: You’ll know it’s working when your athletes begin saying and believing the message without you having to say it first. At first, Run At Em’ belonged to me. Then it became something our coaching staff intentionally reinforced every day. Over time, it became part of the language of our team. Eventually, it no longer belonged to any coach at all—it belonged to our girls. I can’t tell you exactly how long that process will take. Every team is different. But I can tell you this: if you consistently live, teach, and model the message, a day will come when your athletes begin carrying it for one another. And when that day comes, every ounce of intentionality and effort will have been worth it. After our season, one of our state medalists wrote, “Run At Em’ became more than a phrase. It became the way we approached every challenge. It shaped how we competed, how we responded to adversity, and how we encouraged one another. At some point, it stopped being Coach Palmer’s message and became our identity.” When your athletes begin protecting the culture without your prompting—when they challenge one another, encourage one another, and pass the message on to younger teammates—you’ve moved beyond OCTOBER 2026

leading a team. You’ve built a culture. And beliefs and culture like that have the power to outlast any single season or event.

Beliefs Outlast Championships.

The true test of a program’s identity isn’t how athletes respond when everything is going well. It’s how they respond when disappointment arrives. One of our top sprinters experienced that firsthand this season. Entering the district meet, she had high expectations but left frustrated after qualifying for the Area Meet with a fourth-place finish. It would have been easy to define her season by that moment and fold the tents. Instead, she chose to Run At Em’. She had heard the message, had bought into the message, and had chosen to believe it. I firmly believe had we not been intentional as a program with our message since day one, her season would have been over. The following week, she set a new school record and earned a trip to Regionals. It was her best performance of the year after experiencing one of the biggest letdowns of her career. When I later asked what that experience had taught her, she never mentioned the school record. She never mentioned the medal she was chasing. Instead, she said, “There was nothing extraordinary about David. What he did have was full confidence in the wonder-working power of God. I learned how to attack life and not let setbacks define me. I learned to run at my challenges and believe in something bigger than myself.” At that moment, I realized she wasn’t reflecting on a track anymore. She was talking about life. And that’s when I knew our message had become something much bigger than athletics.

A Coach’s Real Legacy.

Long before I ever stood on a track as a head coach, my grandfather taught me what it meant to trust God. He lived a quiet faith that didn’t need to be announced because it was evident in the way he loved people and faced life’s challenges. When I was sixteen years old, he gave me a small pocket cross that I carried with me for years. After he passed away, I slipped that cross back into his pocket before he was laid to rest. It was my way of saying thank you for giving me a faith worth carrying. Coach Kent Jackson taught me what coaching was really supposed to be. He demanded excellence, but never allowed winning to become more important than people. He had a way of making every athlete feel seen, valued, and capable of more than they believed themselves. If you ask his former players what they remember most, they wouldn’t start with championships 45

or records. They would tell you they knew he loved them for who they were, not just for what they accomplished. That has become the standard I measure my own coaching against. Coach Derek Shelby reminded me that sometimes the most powerful lessons are hidden in verses we’ve read a hundred times. He helped me see that David didn’t wait for the giant to come to him. David ran. That simple truth gave our program language for the kind of people we wanted to become. None of those men simply gave me ideas. They gave me something worth passing on. Every program already has an identity. The question is whether you’re intentionally building it. Before choosing your next team theme, ask yourself a couple of questions: •

What is the identity of our program?

•

If one of your seniors was interviewed ten years from now, what would he/she say was the identity of your team? Will this still matter when the season is over?

must make as a coach is to intentionally build it versus letting it build your team. Find a belief worth building your program around. Repeat it. Live it. Model it. One day, if you’ve done it well enough, you’ll hear your athletes saying it to one another without you in the room. When that happens, the message no longer belongs to you. It belongs to the athletes and your program. Years from now, they probably won’t remember every workout, every practice plan, or every speech. But if they leave believing they can face adversity with courage, confidence, and faith, then you’ve given them something that will outlast any championship. I can think of no greater legacy a coach can leave.

If your team identity is not working to make your kids successful people in life after the season, is it something worth building? Every program already has an identity. The choice you

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BUILDING A CHAMPION

HOW BRIAN G. RANDLE LED THE DR. THOMAS E. RANDLE LIONS TO THEIR FIRST STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

By: Brian g. Randle

head football coach at Randle HS | region 5 thsca director In the world of high school athletics, championships are rarely accidents. They are the result of vision, discipline, culture, and relentless execution. That truth was on full display when Brian Randle guided the Dr. Thomas E. Randle Lions to their first-ever state championship—a milestone that instantly transformed the program from hopeful contender to standard-bearer. It took Randle just three full seasons of varsity football to bring home a state title. They defeated South Oak Cliff in a 38-35 thriller in the 2024 5A Division II State Title Game. “We don’t make excuses at Randle, we own it. Good or Bad” A Vision Bigger Than Wins The Mind is Everything. What you Believe, you Become,’ is written on the walls of Richmond Randle’s weight room. That mantra permeated the program for 16 weeks as they trudged through a grueling regular season and postseason journey to reach the state title game.

Opening a brand-new school is extremely hard, you have to create everything. You have to teach them everything from where and how we stand during the National Anthem, to how we wash clothes. Once you find your identity the rest is easy. Talent existed, but consistency, structure, and belief had yet to take root. From day one, you must make it clear: this was not about quick wins—it was about building something sustainable. Emphasize long-term vision: • • •

Compete every day, not just on game day Build habits that translate under pressure Develop young men, not just athletes

That mindset shift became the foundation of everything that followed. Culture First, Always Before the trophies, there was culture. Randle instilled accountability across the program. Practices are intentional, competitive, and demanding. Every drill has purpose. Every rep matters. Players are expected to lead, communicate, and hold each other to a higher standard. The way we build leaders is giving everyone an opportunity to lead.

•

Monday’s (Purpose filled) we slow down and teach; at the end of practice everyone is up on the Head Coach.

•

Tuesday’s (Passion) we are loud music is playing and Coaches are coaching HARD!! At the end of practice everyone is up on their Coordinator (Offensive or Defensive) OCTOBER 2026

•

Wednesdays (Productivity) Everything we do is productive, if we can’t get the play right by now, we will not call it this week. At the end of practice everyone is up on their position Coach.

•

Thursdays/Friday (Tradition) It’s all about winning on these days and building a culture of excellence. Its Peer lead, everyone is up on whomever their position coach picks that day.

Now everyone has skin in the game and you are truly growing MEN into leaders and not just follows. Key cultural pillars: • • •

Discipline: Showing up prepared, on time, and locked in Team-first mentality: Sacrificing individual stats for collective success Resilience: Responding to adversity with composure and confidence

Player Development as the Engine Championship programs are built in the offseason, and we understand that better than most. The Lions’ rise was fueled by consistent, detailed player development. But let’s not kid ourselves it takes talent, community and great coaching to win the big one. Without trust we have nothing; our parents trust us with their most prized possessions; and allow us to coach them hard. Instead of relying solely on natural talent, the program focused on: • •

•

Skill refinement (Great Feet, Ball-awareness, Great Defense, and Fundamentals) Football IQ (film study, situational awareness) o Game Situation on Wednesdays o Running all trick plays and special teams daily Strength and conditioning o We lift 4 days a week in the off-season and 3 days a week in season o We start bootcamp during the playoffs

Players improved year after year, and more importantly, they improved together. Roles became clearer, chemistry deepened, and confidence grew.

Defensive Identity Wins Titles Every great team has a calling card—and for the Lions, it was defense. Please understand we have Landen Williams-Callis and in my opinion he is the best running back in the country. We put up godly numbers on the offensive side of the ball like scoring 862 point this season which was 2nd in the Nation, but if you can’t stop people then you are just spinning your wheels. The 2023 Huntsville game will forever haunt us. We loss 14-13 in the 3rd round of the playoffs. Yes, we were young, starting a freshman at running back and a sophomore at quarterback; yes, there were questionable calls by the officials. But on a 4th and 6 we failed to get off the field. We made adjustments on our staff, the coaches locked in and the rest is history. Randle’s system prioritized: • • •

Pressure Gap Sound Fast and Physical

We don’t just aim to outscore opponents—we aimed to control games. That defensive mindset created consistency, especially in high-pressure playoff environments where offense can falter. Coach Rambo has done a phenomenal job as our DC. 7.2 PPG during the Regular Season 9.3 PPG on the Season (16-weeks) 23 RYG during the Regulas Season 47 RYG on the Season (16-weeks) 111 YPG during the Regular Season 152 YPG on the Season (16-weeks) 774 Total rushing yards given up over 16 games.

OCTOBER 2026

Leadership From Within While coaching set the tone, player leadership brought it to life. We empowered our athletes to take ownership of the program. This culture became selfsustaining. Players didn’t just follow expectations— they enforced them. Great teams are led by their players. Veteran players led by example: • • •

Communicating on the Field Holding teammates accountable in practice Staying composed in big moments

That internal leadership proved critical during the championship run, we were poise and unity separated contenders from champions. The Championship Run When the postseason arrived, the Lions were ready— not just physically, but mentally. We had been tested, challenged, and prepared for the moment. Game by game, we executed: • • • • •

Sticking to defensive principles Offense scoring when we needed too Special Teams, Special Teams, Special Teams Trusting the system Playing unselfishly

When our opponents kick went wide left and the final horn sounded in the state championship game, it

wasn’t just a win—it was validation. The program had reached a level it had never seen before. The Blueprint for Sustained Success What we’ve built at Dr. Thomas E. Randle Lions offers a clear blueprint for any program chasing excellence: 1.) Establish a strong culture before chasing results 2.) Invest heavily in player development 3.) Define a clear identity (Offense, Defense, Pace (hurry up), Discipline.) 4.) Develop leadership within the team 5.) Stay consistent—daily championship moments

habits

create

More Than a Title The first state championship will always hold special significance, but its impact goes beyond banners and rings. It reshaped expectations. It set a new standard. It proved what was possible. It began with a 4-6 season without seniors and lead to a 11-2 campaign without a full coaching staff before turning into a perfect 16-0 state championship season. We didn’t just win—we built a legacy.

OCTOBER 2026

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BETWEEN THE COURT AND HOME: HOW THE R.O.C.K. PROGRAM SHAPED ME AS A COACH AND A MOTHER

By ilianna knowles | Abilene isd, madison ms There’s a quiet reality behind coaching that many people don’t always see. It lives in the early mornings, the late nights, and the constant pull between passion and responsibility. For some, that pull is even greater—especially when the title of “coach” is carried alongside the title of “mom.” I’m incredibly thankful to be able to share that part of the journey—the part that often goes unseen, but shapes everything. When I first stepped into coaching, I didn’t come in with just a whistle and a game plan. I came in as a young coach, a woman in a male-dominated profession, and a mother of two boys—Teagen, age 4, and Tate, age 2— learning how to live with her heart in two places at once while raising them to chase their own dreams. I loved the game, but I often questioned myself. Was I experienced enough? Was I respected enough? And as a mom—was I doing enough? When I became a coach, I knew the responsibility would be big. When I became a mother, that responsibility became heavier in ways I never expected. Being a coach and a mom means leaving your own children to go lead other people’s children. It means celebrating wins on the court while missing moments at home—moments with my boys that I wish I could be in two places at once. 56

It means carrying guilt that doesn’t fade when the game ends or when the door closes behind you. Guilt for missing moments. Guilt for being exhausted. Guilt for wondering if your children will someday feel the weight of your absence. And yet, there are moments that bring everything into focus. Moments on the court when my boys sit in the stands or walk into the gym, looking at my players and asking, “Mommy, are those your kids?” Moments outside the gym, when they see my players in public and immediately light up, as if they are part of our world too. In those small, innocent interactions, they remind me that they see my team the way I do—as something more than just a game. To them, this isn’t just where I work or coach— it’s a place filled with people I care about, people I pour into, people I fight for. And in their eyes, the connection is simple: if they matter to me, then they must be part of our family too. It was in that space—in that constant pull between home and coaching—that the R.O.C.K. program met me. It didn’t try to turn me into someone else. Instead, it reminded me that who I already was mattered. It taught me that my voice deserved space. That my perspective as a woman wasn’t a weakness. That my OCTOBER 2026

compassion, my patience, and my ability to connect deeply with athletes are powerful leadership tools. One of the biggest ways R.O.C.K. helped me was through mentorship. The program connected me with experienced coaches who took the time to listen, answer questions, and guide me through real challenges. When I felt unsure about my decisions, I had people I could turn to. When I felt overwhelmed trying to balance coaching and motherhood, I had mentors who reminded me that it was okay to ask for support and not just professionally. They emphasized how important it is to have support at home especially from a spouse and I’m grateful to have that kind of partnership. One that believes in my work and helps carry the load so I can keep showing up fully. They truly understood what it means to love this profession and love your family just as fiercely. They reminded me that exhaustion doesn’t mean weakness and that asking for help is a strength. As a young coach, R.O.C.K. gave me confidence. It showed me that growth doesn’t come from pretending to know everything, but from being willing to learn, ask questions, and keep showing up. I stopped comparing myself to others and started believing in my own journey.

confident in who I am as both a coach and a mother. I trust my instincts, communicate with purpose, and lead with my heart—for my athletes and for my two boys, who inspire me every single day. Everything I am as a coach and as a mother comes back to those two roles shaping and strengthening each other. And if there is one thing I hope lingers beyond my story, it is this: for every young mother, every expecting mother, and every woman standing in the tension of wondering if she can do both—you are not alone in that feeling, and you are not the only one who has questioned it. You will have days where you doubt yourself, days where you feel stretched beyond what you think you can handle, and days where the weight of it all feels almost too heavy to carry. But you will also have moments—quiet, powerful moments—where you realize you are stronger than you gave yourself credit for, and that nothing about your journey has been wasted. And slowly, in your own imperfect way, you will begin building something meaningful in both places that matter most—not perfectly, but fully, and with a strength you may not recognize until you look back and see how far you’ve come.

As a woman, the program helped me embrace my voice instead of shrinking it. I learned how to lead with confidence while still being myself, and how to stand firm in my decisions even when I felt underestimated. Most importantly, R.O.C.K. reinforced why I coach in the first place. It’s not just about wins and losses. It’s about relationships. It’s about creating a culture where growth matters more than fear of failure. It’s about lifting others up so they can shine their brightest. It’s about giving athletes someone who believes in them, especially when they don’t believe in themselves. Because of the R.O.C.K. program, I am more OCTOBER 2026

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February 12 & 13, 2027

Football, Family, and Fun in Fredericksburg

The Coaching Clinic your Wife wants you to Attend

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Bring your wife/family for a getaway weekend in the Texas Hill Country. We will talk football thru mid-afternoon each day, while the wives enjoy everything that Fredericksburg has to offer. A discount packet has been arranged from several local shops and is available for every attendee. There will be a Social on Friday evening where only the Ladies win the Door Prizes. Updated and Expanded Live Music, Saturday Night Social. NAME:

NAME:

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SCHOOL PHONE:

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EMAIL ADDRESS:

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Enclosed is a check for $________ covering coaches at $80 per coach. ($90 after February 1st, no refunds after Feb. 1) $250 Registration Covers the Entire Staff

Make checks payable to and send checks to: Best Little Clinic in Texas, c/o Clay Bode, 16440 State Hwy 71, Pontotoc, TX. 76869

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building an unselfish offensvie line culture:

The standard, the bond, and the truth By coach clay mayo, woodville high school offensive coordinator and offensive line coach In every successful football program, there is a common thread that often goes unnoticed by the casual observer but is unmistakable to coaches—the culture of the offensive line room. It is a position group built on sacrifice, discipline, and unity. Offensive linemen do not chase recognition; they chase execution. And if you’re going to build a great offensive line, it starts with cultivating an unselfish culture that demands more than just size and strength.

The Demands of the Position Playing offensive line is one of the most demanding roles in football, both physically and mentally. Yes, we require size, strength, footwork, and toughness. But those are just the baseline. The real separator is what a player can handle mentally and emotionally. An offensive lineman must embrace the reality of the position: •

You will be blamed when things go wrong.

•

You will rarely be recognized when things go right.

•

Your mistakes are often visible and costly.

•

Your success is measured by someone else’s stats.

That takes a certain kind of young man. We emphasize self-evaluation daily. Our players grade themselves before we ever put 62

a grade on them. They must learn to watch film objectively—removing ego and emotion—to identify where they failed and how to improve. This builds ownership. If a player cannot be honest with himself, he cannot grow. Equally important is the ability to be coached. Offensive linemen must be able to take correction without defensiveness. We tell our guys: correction is not criticism—it’s investment. If a coach is correcting you, it means he believes you can do it better. We also prepare them for in-game adjustments. Defensive fronts will change. Pressures will come from different angles. The ability to communicate, adjust, and execute under pressure is critical. This only happens when players are mentally prepared and trust one another.

Building the Bond Talent alone does not make a great offensive line—connection does. We intentionally create opportunities for our players to build relationships outside of football. One of the most effective tools we use is offensive line dinners. Coaches and players meet in a relaxed setting, off the field, to spend time together. There is something powerful about breaking bread as a group. Conversations happen that don’t happen in the meeting room. Players open OCTOBER 2026

up. Coaches listen. Walls come down.

This approach builds accountability across the room. Players begin to coach each other. Those dinners translate directly onto the Standards are reinforced peer-to-peer, not just field. When players know each other beyond coach-to-player. The concept of 'this is who we the helmet, communication improves. Trust are' needs to be on display daily. deepens. Effort increases. You’re no longer blocking for “the guy next to you”—you’re fighting The Emergence of Leadership for your brother. When the standard is clear, the bond is That bond shows up in critical moments: strong, and the truth is consistent, leadership will • When a teammate makes a mistake and emerge naturally. needs encouragement. It may not always be your most talented • When adversity hits and the group has player. Often, it’s the one who embodies the culture daily—the one who communicates, holds to respond. others accountable, and competes relentlessly. • When fatigue sets in and effort must be As position coaches, our job is to support sustained. those leaders. Give them a voice. Back them A connected offensive line plays faster, more publicly. Reinforce their actions. When players physical, and more unified. see that leadership is valued, others will follow.

The Importance of Honest Assessment

Final Thoughts

Culture cannot exist without truth.

The offensive line room is not for everyone— We are honest with our players—always. If and that’s what makes it special. it’s bad, we say it’s bad. Then we immediately shift There will be sarcasm. There will be laughs. to: how do we fix it? We provide clear, actionable There are inside jokes. There will be hard steps for improvement. Vague criticism has little coaching, frustration, and high emotions. But value in a productive meeting room. through it all, if built correctly, there will be trust. At the same time, when it’s good, we And ultimately, there will be family. identify exactly why it’s good. Success leaves When offensive linemen commit to an clues, and our players need to understand what winning reps look like so they can replicate them unselfish culture, invest in each other, and embrace the truth, they become more than a consistently. position group. They become the foundation of The key is consistency in messaging. your football team. Players must trust that what they hear from their And that foundation will carry you further coach is real. Not emotional. Not personal. Just than talent ever could. honest.

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The future of flag football INCLUDES the GIRLS! As the popularity of high school girls flag football grows in the United States, the Dallas Cowboys are working with school communities across Texas to provide girls an opportunity to use the game of flag football as a fun and exciting way to be healthy, to learn values taught through sport, and potentially further their education with scholarships to collegiate intitutions now playing flag football at a higher level. OCTOBER 2026

For more information or to discuss partnering with the Dallas Cowboys on this effort, contact YouthFootball@DallasCowboys.net.

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