Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas

Coach Larry Hill has been the head football coach in Smithson Valley for over 30 years.  This kind of longevity is almost unheard of in todays coaching world.  Growing up watching his father and his influence on young men and idolizing some of the greats, like Tom Landry, Bear Bryant and Darrell Royal, Coach Hill never second guessed his decision to enter the coaching profession.  His commitment to excellence and his motto of "do w...

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

Head football coach and athletic director for the Jarrell Cougars, Alan Haire has been doing what he's doing long enough to know what is important and what comes second.  From home visits to greeting kids at the door when they come in, relationships drive the atmosphere of his athletic program.  Expectations are high for the cougars and hard work is an every day expectation for athletes and coaches alike.  But this is what it takes...

Michael Enriquez is beginning year two as the head coach and athletic director for his hometown of Karnes City.  His goal is to restore "Badger Pride Never Dies" to the hearts and minds of his athletes.  He is all in for love for family and love for your teammates.  This is the driving principle behind everything he and his coaching staff do for their athletes.  From the relationships with players and coaching staff to relationship...

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

Head football coach and boys coordinator for the New Braunfels Unicorns, Brad Molder, has only been the head coach here for 2 years and has already racked up 20 wins over 27 games.  Now the unicorns are dropping a classification from 5A-1 to 5A-2 and although their new district is a tough one, just like their old one, they once again will be battling to make a deep playoff run.  Coach Molder covers all the bases with his athletes, ...

From the panhandle of Texas, to the metroplex and now to the hill country, Ben Speer has seen a variety of programs and worked for some strong leaders in Texas High School football (including my co-host for episodes 6 and 7, Mike Fuller).  These leaders have helped shape him into the coach and leader he is today for the Bulldogs.  With his family at his side they have made the moves necessary to accept his first head role in Burnet...

Coach Andy Howard can name drop with the best of them as he recalls the long list of great coaches he has worked for and with.  These opportunities have served him well in preparing him for his role as athletic director and head football coach for Goldthwaite ISD.  Having been in west Texas his whole life, the country setting of this community is the perfect fit for the cotton farmer turned coach.  T...

Pete Hart has spent almost 40 years positively influencing young men and women through coaching.  One of those young men was me.  My classmates and I were fortunate enough to have him arrive in Bridgeport our 8th grade year and follow us through high school.  Coach Hart has influenced and inspired many young men and women to go into the education field and many with great success, such as Carl Abseck of Lufkin and Jeff Riordan of C...

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

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

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

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

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

Tony Salazar is the head football coach for Westlake HS and also assistant athletic director the district, Eanes ISD.  These roles keep him very busy leading one of the top 6A programs in the state.  But he still takes time for the important things, like caddying for his son, who plays competitive golf around the state.  Whatever the activity is, his expectations are high.  As a member of the Westlake Chaparrals, players know their...