Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas

Episode 52: Jeff Riordan, athletic director and head football coach for Chapel Hill ISD, talks about Code Blue for the Bulldogs program.

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

Episode 51: Kody Yeager, head football coach and athletic director for Brackett ISD returns to his hometown to lead the Tigers' program.

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

Episode 50: Steve Huff, athletic director and head football coach for the Decatur Eagles talks core values and accountability.

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

Episode 49: Tate DeMasco, head football coach and athletic director for Tom Moore ISD in Ingram shares his pillars of a successful program and successful life.

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

Episode 48: Ozona Lions head coach and athletic director, Jason Pitts, talks about his pillars for success and his thoughts on school vouchers.

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

Episode 47: We talk football and golf caddying with Tony Salazar, head football coach for Westlake HS.

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

Episode 46: Adam Cummings, head football coach and athletic director for the West Plains Wolves begins year 4 of developing leaders for Canyon ISD.

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

Episode 45: Kevin Salazar, head football coach and athletic director for Goliad ISD, leads his hometown where the Tigers hope to continue their string of 10 win seasons.

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

Episode 44: Brian Hodnett, Head football coach and athletic director for Sweetwater ISD talks about the importance of relationships and a good staff.

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

Episode 43: Jim Kerbow, head football coach and AD for Meridian ISD, talks about the importance of being there for your athletes.

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