Beyond the Lights: Football Across Texas

Joel Fontenot-Amedee, head football coach and athletic director for the Bandera Bulldogs, talks about the importance of having a community that feels like family and balancing priorities not just for himself but for his athletes.  He has know he wanted to be a coach since high school but did not expect to wind up in Texas high school football after growing up and playing college ball in his home state of Louisiana.

Head football coach and AD for the Giddings Buffaloes, Luke Hobbs, started his journey from over 1200 miles away but knew Texas was the place to be on Friday nights.  His family has been in Giddings before, but this time he is holding the reigns for the program.  He has a good staff around him and hopes to do big things for the Buffaloes.  

Kent Walker left his very successful program in Liberty Hill for the rolling hills of Blanco.  Coach Walker brings to Blanco a toughness that he has acquired through the difficult times in his life, that he hopes to pass on to his new athletes so they are prepared to handle the challenges life brings.

Season 1 had a lot of good information shared by coaches from all of the schools we visited.  I put together some of the more memorable moments and some of the funniest/unusual moments to wrap up the season.

Eli Reinhart is fresh off his state championship win as the OC for the North Crowley Panthers.  He is taking over for the Hutto Hippos with his first head coaching role.  We discuss everything from Michigan high school football to his expectations for his new athletes as he begins a new era in Hippo football.

Randy Jackson has had experience as a head coach and specifically turning programs around by developing culture and very intentional actions to bring about the desired result:  a successful program.  Listen to Coach Jackson talk about the first steps and priorities you will want to attend to as you start your program.

Brent Kornegay enters his 22nd year as a head coach and athletic director, starting anew at Johnson City in the hill country.  After retiring once, the pull to get back on the field brought him back in 2 years ago and now he looks to revive the Eagles program for Johnson City.

Devon Dorris is closing out his 15th season as head coach for Azle ISD and that is probably the longest tenure of any head football coach in Azle high school history.  He has returned to his hometown and kept the hornets playing consistently at a high level against 5A powerhouses in the DFW area.  Coach Dorris has taken what he learned from his coaches in high school and college and put them into practice for the Hornets.

Denney Faith is the 2nd winningest active football coach in the state of Texas with 369 wins.  Coach Faith talks about what keeps the Lions consistently in winners circle and what the keys are to staying in one place so long.  (and it's not just the bass fishing up there!)

Coach Cedric Hardeman of Conroe High School talks about his move from the business world back to the football field.  He also talks about the importance of "finding your David", what has God given you to be successful in life and how he teaches that to his athletes to prepare them for life after graduation.

Keith Allen has been selected as the head football coach at Schreiner University as they lay the foundation for their new football program, which will begin games this fall.  We talk about what it's like recruiting kids to start a program and how he sells Kerrville and Schreiner University to new recruits.

Ryan Mahon is the head football coach for the Blinn Buccaneers.  Blinn competes in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).  Coach Mahon talks about how he recruits, what his goal is for his athletes and how the portal has affected his level of football.