Full list of coaches and other individuals interviewed for each episode.
Click link below to find your episode.
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Episode 60
Jose Aguirre, head football coach and assistant athletic director, Gatesville ISD
Jose Aguirre, head football coach and asst. AD for Gatesville ISD, promised his family he would not move them all over the state if he could help it and right now they are happy to call Gatesville home for the 4th year in a row. Coach Aguirre just finished his first year as the head man after leading the defense for the three previous seasons. With a tough district once again to look forward to, he is counting on a well organized off season and strong work ethic to have his players ready for the challenge.
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Episode 59
Brad Molder, head football coach and boys coordinator, New Braunfels
Brad Molder, has only been the head coach in New Braunfels for 2 years and has already racked up 20 wins over 27 games. Now the unicorns are dropping a classification from 5A-1 to 5A-2 and although their new district is a tough one, just like their old one, they once again will be battling to make a deep playoff run. Coach Molder covers all the bases with his athletes, from character building to physical toughness demanded from his bootcamp program. These are a couple of the reasons they are expected to maintain a high level of competitiveness in the coming years.
Episode 58
Ben Speer, head football coach, Burnet Bulldogs
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 and the good Lord preparing the way, they have made the moves necessary to accept his first head role in Burnet, taking over for the retired Bryan Wood, one of his long time mentors. Here he hopes to sink his roots deep in the town he has called home for the last 5 years.
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Episode 57
Andy Howard, head football coach and athletic director for Goldthwaite ISD
Coach Andy Howard can name drop with the best of them as he recalls the long list of great coaches he has worked for and with. These opportunities have served him well in preparing him for his role as athletic director and head football coach for Goldthwaite ISD. Having been in west Texas his whole life, the country setting of this community is the perfect fit for the cotton farmer turned coach. The uncomfortable should be comfortable, as he likes to put it and hard work is just a way of life for him and the Goldthwaite Eagles.
Shown here with family from left: wife Tobie, daughter Lauren, daughter Audra, son Brian
Episode 56
Pete Hart, former head coach and athletic director for Chico and Alvord
Pete Hart has spent almost 40 years positively influencing young men and women through coaching. One of those young men was me. My classmates and I were fortunate enough to have him arrive in Bridgeport our 8th grade year and follow us through high school. Coach Hart has influenced and inspired many young men and women to go into the education field and many with great success, such as Carl Abseck of Lufkin and Jeff Riordan of Chapel Hill. His passion, not just for the game of football, but for seeing students grow and develop into good people is noticeable to anyone who has spent time with him. Thank you coach Hart, for all you have done for the young people of the north Texas area!
Shown here with family from left: daughter Jennifer, wife Valarie,and son Joshua
Episode 55
Jason Reynolds, athletic director and head football coach, Natalia ISD
Jason Reynolds is in his second stint with Natalia ISD. His first role in the district was the OC several years back before leaving for the OC job in Wichita Falls. But as soon as one of his mentors vacated the big seat in Natalia, he jumped at the opportunity to return and take over as AD and head football coach. Coach Reynolds and family are in year two back with the Mustangs and he and his staff are working hard to keep a solid foundation built on character and a positive culture.
Episode 54
John Penn, Dallas Football Officials Association
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.
Episode 53
Wayne Elliott, Executive Secretary, Austin Football Officials Association
Wayne Elliott has been officiating for 47 years and has called games from the junior high level to the NFL. This kind of endurance as an official requires thick skin and a love of the game. In this episode we get a view of the game from a different vantage point and discuss the challenges faced with the profession and the steps to take if you want to take up the call as an official.
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Episode 52
Jeff Riordan, head football coach and athletic director Chapel Hill Bulldogs
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.
Shown here with family from left: son Jonah, wife Mandy and daughter Kendyl
Episode 51
Kody Yeager, head football coach and athletic director, Brackett ISD
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.
