Coach of the Week | Houston Texans - HoustonTexans.com
Coaches change lives and we want to honor deserving educators in our community! Nominate a high school football coach for Coach of the Week presented by Houston Methodist and they could receive recognition from the Houston Texans, a $2,500 grant for their football program, and the chance to win overall Coach of the Year. Thank you to all coaches who have a positive impact on student athletes, their community and the game of football. Nominate one now!
2024 Winners
Patrick Sanders
Week 1
School: Clear Brook High School
Years Coaching: 22
Why do you coach?
I coach because it allows me to "fill in the gaps" Through coaching. I can reach young men and women that I may not normally have the chance to interact with. I can be a father figure and a mentor to a lot of these kids that may need extra guidance or a positive influence. My coaching philosophy is "Pray but row away from the rocks." I teach my kids to believe in a higher power but put in the work along the way. That's the biggest reason I have chosen to coach at the high school level. In high school, these kids are still developing their ideas and their ambitions. If I can help one kid stay on track or get on the right track, it makes all the difference.
Allen Aldridge
Week 2
School: George Bush
1972-2024
Coach Allen Aldridge was a Fort Bend native, University of Houston Football alumni, NFL Legend, and Super Bowl Champion. After his playing career, Aldridge returned to his hometown to give back to communities across the Houston area. He devoted his life to coaching the Fort Bend George Bush Broncos for 20 years, making a positive impact on thousands of students. The Houston Texans offer our sincerest condolences to the Aldridge family and the many athletes, students, and colleagues whose lives were changed for the better by Coach Allen Aldridge.
Demond Stafford
Week 3
School: Northbrook High School
Years Coaching: 25
Why do you coach?
I coach to impact as many lives as I can. I believe I have positive things to give to today's youth, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to do so every day.
Zach Head
Week 4
School: Clear Falls High School
Years Coaching: 22
Why do you coach?
I coach because it allows me to give back to the community through a game I love. I love serving others and I love the characteristics that football teaches along with the strategy of the game. Coaching allows me to spend each day doing what I'm passionate about.
Trey Sissom
Week 5
School: William B. Travis High School
Years Coaching: 28
Why do you coach?
Competitive athletics is one of the last remaining areas that allows for the development of our leaders of tomorrow. In real life, there is always a winner and loser, there will be some good days and some bad. As a coach, we are privileged to have the opportunity to help young people learn, grow, and mature through many challenging experiences. By celebrating their achievements and reassuring them during their failures, we as coaches can hopefully influence their development into productive adults that will shape our future.
Brandon Ellis
Week 6
School: Worthing High School
Years Coaching: 20
Why do you coach?
From an early age, I was on a trajectory to play professional football. After finishing college and facing the realization that professional football was not in my future, I returned home to Houston and began an internship with the Texans football team. I love football so much that the opportunity to continue to be a part of the sport I am so passionate about was a tremendous blessing. I initially worked as an intern during Fall camp but was later hired to work in video operations during the season, printing and labeling still shots in the press box for the coaching staff. After three years of taking still shots of every play and formation during home games, my love for the X's and O's grew exponentially because I was able to gain a different perspective of the sport. My experience with the Texans led me down a path to my career at Worthing High School, where I was able to combine my passion, knowledge, and preparation and channel it to a commitment to teach high school student athletes about the game of football. I have dedicated my coaching career to Worthing because early on I understood that my impact would be greater if I was a consistent presence in the lives of my high school students who often contend with frequent change and unreliability.
Earl Westbrooks
Week 7
School: Sharpstown High School
Years Coaching: 7
Why do you coach?
I accept and love the role of being a positive role model. A coach can impact more young people in a year than most people are afforded in a lifetime.
Kris O'Neal
Week 8
School: Waltrip High School
Years Coaching: 32
Why do you coach?
I coach with the vision of "Training athletes in the way they should go, to thrive and not simply survive in an ever changing and complex world". That is a long way of saying life is a struggle and I want them to be able to struggle with strength, courage and dignity. We don't decide whether life is hard or not, we all know that it is hard, and I pray we give them the tools to struggle well.
Oji Fagan
Week 9
School: Cypress Springs High School
Years Coaching: 24
Why do you coach?
My high school coaches imparted invaluable life lessons that laid the foundation for the man I am today. Coming from a single-parent household, these coaches were father figures to me, filling a crucial role in my life for which I am forever grateful. They showed me that coaching is about more than just sports—it's about making a positive impact. I'm driven to coach because it gives me the opportunity to influence young lives in a meaningful way. I aim to help my athletes grow into responsible, productive members of society. Success goes beyond wins and losses; it's about developing young men who will thrive on and off the field.
Brian Randle
Week 10
School: Randle High School
Years Coaching: 20
Why do you coach?
Coaching is the most influential and rewarding profession in the field of education. Coaching is more than a job; it's a way of life. Coaches are role models for their athletes and their campuses. Coaches have a major influence in the lives of young men and women. Because of this, I am, and I expect our coaches to be a good example in all areas of life. I didn't always have the best teachers, and I wasn't always treated right, so I made it my business that when I became a teacher, and a Coach I would always do right by people. The one thing I do remember is at the end of practice every day no matter what level I was playing on Coaches speaking life into us. I was listening. I hope and pray that all Coaches are speaking life into their players because they are listening. I was.
2023 Winners
Shaun McDowell
Week 1
School: Grand Oaks High School
Years Coaching: 20
Why do you coach?
I coach because I love to see players achieve things that they believe they can't achieve. Teaching them values such as working hard, commitment, discipline, and teamwork which will serve them throughout their lives. I love coaching at the high school level because it allows me to help mold young players to be the best versions of themselves and become great men.
Tyrone Green
Week 2
School: Shadow Creek High School
Years Coaching: 21
Why do you coach?
I coach because the coaches I had in my life were instrumental in helping to mold me into the man I am today. So, I wanted to give back at the high school level where I can help guide kids in the right direction and try to be a positive role model they can count on.
Cornelius Anthony
Week 3
School: Hightower High School
Years Coaching: 14
Why do you coach?
I coach to utilize the platform and influence of sports to positively change the lives of the athletes and coaches under my care. Coaching for me is my ministry. It is a way that I can use the positive core values that sports teaches us to transform the lives of the youth to make our world and our tomorrow a better place. Hard work, discipline, working with others/teamwork, integrity, overcoming adversity, execution amongst many other characteristics are the lessons that we point out and drive home in my athletic program to each of our athletes. We also have a culture of Excellence that we instill in every member of our athletic program which are our 4 Pillars of Excellence.
Rick LaFavers
Week 4
School: Ridge Point High School
Years Coaching: 27
Why do you coach?
Coaching is a calling for me. I coach to make a difference in young people's lives. I love the "ahh hah" moment and taking an athlete from point A to point Z. I love helping people reach their goals. I began my coaching career in college and moved to high school after 14 years in college. Kids in high school are much more impressionable and I believe you can make a much bigger impact at the high school level. It is a different relationship in college…still a great and meaningful relationship…just more mature. Guys in college are further along in their development into a young man.
Kevin Berneathy
Week 5
School: La Porte High School
Years Coaching: 16
Why do you coach?
I am passionate about coaching, and my inspiration stems from my father, who dedicated many years to coaching at the high school level. As a child, I spent countless hours in the field house of Ball High School, where I witnessed firsthand the positive impact that coaches can have on young lives. I coach because of the players. My goal is to provide them with the most enriching and memorable high school football experience possible.
Cirilo Ojeda
Week 6
School: Aldine High School
Years Coaching: 19
Why do you coach?
I Coach because my Dad is a youth football coach and sports were a large part of my life growing up. I know what it gave me with coaches, teammates, and the community. I felt a calling to carry on that legacy and went into the Alternative Certification program to become a teacher and Coach. I had amazing veteran mentors that helped me grow as a Coach and learn from Coach Mike Ellisor and Coach Wes Bryant. It showed me that what we do is more than just the practices and the games, but an opportunity to give young men and women guidance, discipline and a way to approach life. I truly believe that everyday there is a moment where a coach can improve someone's day and give that little bit of presence or advice to help impact positive change and that's why I coach.
Sergio Gonzalez
Week 7
School: Sam Rayburn High School
Years Coaching: 12
Why do you coach?
I coach because of the experience I had as a player at Galena Park High School. I was a part of a group that had the most wins since the 60's in school history. I had great coaches who motivated me and did right by me and my teammates. The brotherhood Bonds I share with my teammates are still strong to this day. I coach to make a difference for kids who maybe need the extra resource, care or guidance in life.
Theadis Reagins
Week 8
School: Royal High School
Years Coaching: 19
Why do you coach?
Great middle and high school coaches poured into my development as a young athlete because they identified my potential and passion for athletics. From that, my goal as a coach has always been to help my athletes experience success. I desire to challenge and devise interesting experiences to stretch and help them grow. Coaching at the high school level is rewarding because I can create a space for young people to forget about the problems they may be having in the classroom or personally while building other skills to assist them in reaching their goals. My "Coaching Philosophy" is simply "DO YOUR JOB", "MAKE DAILY DEPOSIT ON GETTING BETTER" , and "STACKING GOOD DAYS ON TOP OF GOOD DAYS"
Tony Herrera
Week 9
School: Wisdom High School
Years Coaching: 14
Why do you coach?
I coach because I am about building strong and meaningful relationships. The ability to be able to connect with people with diverse backgrounds and upbringings is something that is very special to me. I also correlate the game of football with life. I tell my athletes all the time that in football you will deal with many challenges and obstacles, as well the highs and thrills. How you prepare, react, and can persevere through them is a great preview and indicator of what life is about. I specifically coach at the high school level because I truly believe it is the most influential time in a young man's/woman's life.
Michael Lindsey
Week 10
School: Lamar High School
Years Coaching: 20
Why do you coach?
I coach to make a difference in the lives of my players. My dad was a coach and I always saw him making meaningful impacts in his players. I love the relationship opportunities that coaching at the high school level brings. My philosophy on coaching is based on the scripture of Micah 6:8 "What does God require of you, but to Do Justice, Love Mercy, and walk humbly with your God."
2022 Winners
Allen Aldridge
Week 1
School: Bush High School
Years Coaching: 19
Why I Coach: "My father was a coach, my mother is a retired teacher, my sister is a teacher…..I have a family full of educators. Hard work and dedication will take you far in life. "Class and Character" was my school motto at Willowridge High School, and I carried that with me my entire life. I always wanted to coach High School football."
Important School Initiatives: "We have a football leadership program. We will do various things around the community. It is important that people see us in the community and not just on the football field. We work on leadership daily."
Kelvin Chatham
Week 2
School: Booker T. Washington High School
Years Coaching: 8
Why I Coach: "The reason why I coach is because there was a coach in my life who changed my life and I want to give the same opportunity to the kids that I coach. No matter what their different struggles are or where they come from, whether it a good or bad environment, I want to give them the opportunity to let football take them to places that they would not normally be able to go because that's what the game did for me."
Important School Initiatives: "One thing that we do is give up one day of practice and devoted to study hall so that I can ensure all of my kids are passing their classes. We take grades very seriously with our program."
Wade Miller
Week 3
School: Uvalde High School
Years Coaching: 28
Why I Coach: "I coach because I love kids and I love football. I have chosen to stay at the high school level because I feel I can impact more kids when you count 7th grade through 12th grade."
Important School Initiatives: "My coaches and athletes are trying to shine a positive light on our community after the tragic events. We feel like we can help the people of Uvalde heal."
Gary Jessie
Week 4
School: Sterling High School
Years Coaching: 25
Why I Coach: "I coach to give back to kids what my parents, teachers, and coaches gave to me. The ultimate goal is education, but let's teach kids how to use football as the vehicle to get you to that goal. I chose high school because that's where it started for me in terms of the seriousness about my future."
Important School Initiatives: "We mentor our feeder pattern schools. We raise money for breast cancer awareness during the month of October. Each player must pay $1 for every pink accessory he wears. At the end of the month, we send all the proceeds to the breast cancer foundation of the players' choice."
Jarvis Kelley
Week 5
School: Westbury High School
Years Coaching: 16
Why I Coach: "I coach because playing sports in high school helped mold me into the person I am today. Sports taught me how to overcome adversity in life, and this is my opportunity to pay that gift forward to the next generation of student-athletes. My coaching philosophy is simply based on keeping things simple so the kids can play fast."
Important School Initiatives: "We are looking forward to our upcoming community outreach event where our student-athletes will participate in the Houston Food Bank Drive assisting families in need."
Chris Dudley
Week 6
School: Cinco Ranch High School
Years Coaching: 21
Why I Coach: "I love coaching because of the difference you can make in young kids lives. As coaches we have an opportunity to grow young people and develop their character, discipline, and how to handle adversity. I love coaching because of the competitiveness and challenges as well. High school athletics provides the purest form of sport in our country today."
Important School Initiatives: "We have a servant mentality with our football team. In the past year, we have done small things like give our band popsicles, make Coke floats for our trainers, put together goodie bags for our volleyball team, and bigger service projects like contributing to food drives, visiting with elderly at a local retirement home. Each fall our football team captains take part in a Red Ribbon (Say No to Drugs) Pep Rally at Creech Elementary. We are looking to reach even farther and wider this year and in the coming years with service projects."
Jim Shewmake
Week 7
School: Alvin High School
Years Coaching: 43
Why I coach: "I lost my father, and it was just mom and me. My coaches were my male role models and I watched them closely. Cal Steveson, Bill Herron, and Lewis Boomer were huge to me in junior high. They coached me, loved me, and helped me make it through my junior high years. At Odessa High School, I was able to play for some outstanding men. Head Coach Dick Winder and his entire staff were special. Joe Casas and Harry Ray were the two, along with Coach Winder, I worked with the closest. They praised effort over everything. Playing for them was special. I felt special every day and I have tried to give that to the kids I have coached over the years."
James Clancy
Week 8
School: Klein Cain School
Years Coaching: 18
Why I coach: "I coach to make a difference in the lives of young people I get to be around on a daily basis. I was greatly impacted by coaches throughout my life and still am to this day. I value the relationships with all people involved in our profession, especially my players. I truly believe that it is a calling. We always tell our players that our program is not just a four-year relationship, it is a 40-year relationship."
Important school initiatives: "We are a Wounded Warrior Project Ambassador school, and Gridiron Heroes supporter. These initiatives allow members of our program to see how football can give back to those who have sacrificed so much."
Johnathan Wilson
Week 9
School: Klein Forest High School
Years Coaching: 9
Why I coach: "I coach because I want to impact the youth in a positive way. Football is a great game but I believe more importantly it teaches life lessons such a discipline, structure, and work ethic. I decided to coach at the high school level because I wanted to help build young men into responsible adults through the game of football. Klein Forest is where I graduated high school from so I wanted to come back and give back to my community. Klein Forest holds a very special place in my heart and it will always be home!"
Important school initiatives: "Our football program has been a part of several community events over the last few years. We encourage all athletes to give back to their community. Some of the events that we have been a part of are a carwash at Fallbrook Church, reading to students at Greenwood Elementary School and volunteering at The Houston Foodbank."
Lawson Hartwick
Week 10
School: Brazos High School
Years Coaching: 9
Why I coach: "One of the biggest reasons that I coach is because of my dad. I grew up a coach's kid and have loved the game ever since. I would say that one of the biggest things that I try to coach by "is they don't care about how much you know until they know how much you care."
Important school initiatives: "Every game day our athletes go down to our elementary school in town to open doors and spend time with the elementary kids. I think that this is very important because it gives the kids someone to look up to when they get older, and also helps our athletes to know that they have someone who is always watching and looking to them as role models."
