Mansfield ISD on Thursday named former Mesquite Horn and North Crowley head coach Courtney Allen as the next head football coach at Mansfield Legacy.

Allen replaces Jeff Hulme, who joined the staff at Eastern New Mexico University as the defensive coordinator.

Allen spent the 2025 season in an administrative role and he said he’s excited to get back on the field and lead a program in 2026.

“Excited is an understatement," he said. "I’m absolutely ecstatic. Being able to coach kids is something I absolutely love. I’m really at a loss for words to describe who excited I am to be blessed with this opportunity."

Allen led Mesquite Horn for three seasons where the Jaguars were a surprising 8-3 in Year 1. After a disappointing 5-5 mark in 2023 in which the Jags lost several close games, they bottomed out in 2024 going 2-8.

Allen also began to lay the foundation for the powerhouse that is North Crowley when he took over the Panthers program in 2018. After winning just five games in his first two seasons, Allen led the Panthers to a bi-district championship in 2020, North Crowley’s first playoff win since winning a state title in 2003. After a 7-4 mark in 2021, Allen left Tarrant County to take over at Horn.

Prior to his time at North Crowley, Allen was a long-time defensive coordinator at Lancaster under his mentor Chris Gilbert. Allen was part of the Tigers 2012 state runner-up coaching staff.

“Being able to coach at Legacy High School and in Mansfield ISD is a dream come true," he said. "Mansfield is an awesome district. Legacy has been a good program inside of the district and at times they’ve been the top dog in Mansfield. The job was really attractive when it posted. I think there’s potential to get Legacy back to being a top team.

"Mansfield ISD had a great process. I was impressed with how the district operates and I feel like there’s genuine and good people in administration and I can’t wait to work with them and get to know them more.”

Mansfield Legacy will be dropping down to Class 5A-Division I after a stint at the 6A level the past four seasons. The Broncos made the playoffs in 2024 and finished 4-6 a year ago. 

Allen said his official start date has yet to be worked out, but he will be at the Birdville on February 2 for UIL Realignment.

As for what his message will be to his team when he meets them for the first time?

"We want to Instill the belief in the kids that they are winners," he said. "We have a prime opportunity to reinvent ourselves, me and the kids included. We want to have a rebirth of Mansfield Legacy football. We all have a prime opportunity to be part of the rebirth and do something special.”