Manor Finally Names James Keller as Head Coach

After a lengthy timeframe, no doubt delayed by the CoVid-19 pandemic, Manor ISD made official what most knew for some time: offensive coordinator James Keller was promoted to head football coach on Monday. Keller, a native of El Paso who got his start as an assistant at El Paso Burge,s has been a mainstay at Manor for the past 15 years. It’s Keller’s first head coaching job and he takes over a program that advanced to the 5A Division Region III finals in 2019.

Ray Aguilar Moves to El Paso High

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football 2018 Class 4A Coach of the Year Ray Aguilar, Jr. is on the move as after two seasons leading San Elizario, Aguilar on Tuesday was named the next head football coach at El Paso High. Aguilar is taking over another total rebuild as the Tigers posted an 0-10 mark in 2019. He’ll also get to coach at one of the state’s most famous high school stadiums, Jones Stadium, on the campus of El Paso High School.

Perryton Hires Kurt Haburther

Perryton ISD ended their search for a head football coach/athletic director on Monday as they named Amarillo High offensive line coach Kurt Haberther to lead the Rangers program. Haberther spent the past two seasons as an assistant at Amarillo, but spent seven seasons at Sunray as HFC/AD, posting a 43-33 record from 2011 to 2017.

John Livas Departs Skidmore-Tynan

Skidmore-Tynan HFC/AD John Livas announced he was leaving after seven seasons to become the offensive coordinator at Goliad. Livas took over a team in 2013 that was in a total rebuild and posted an 0-10 mark in his first season. By 2017, Skidmore-Tynan had posted a playoff win and in 2018 Livas’ squad posted an impressive 8-3 record before falling back to 5-5 last year. Livas returns to Goliad where he spent 2012 as the offensive coordinator.

Henrietta Names Eldorado HC Michael Johnson

Henrietta ISD announced its replacement for longtime head coach Byron West as it named Eldorado head coach Michael Johnson as HFC/AD. Johnson, who was an assistant at San Angelo Central before taking the Eldorado job in 2017, totally turned that program around in his three seasons. The Eagles were 1-8 the year before Johnson took over and in 2017 they finished with a 2-8 mark. By 2018, Johnson had the Eagles back in the playoffs at 6-5 and in 2019 EHS posted an impressive 10-2 mark and an appearance in the area playoffs.

Brett Ratliff Returns Home to Corrigan-Camden

Hondo head coach Brett Ratliff on Tuesday announced via Twitter that he was leaving Hondo to return to his alma mater as the HFC/AD at Corrigan-Camden High School in the East Texas Piney Woods. Ratliff spent three seasons at Hondo and led the Owls to the area playoffs in 2017 and 2019, with a 6-5 mark sandwiched between in 2018. Ratliff’s departure leaves an attractive 4A job just west of San Antonio open. Expect some interest from smaller school head coaches and young assistants looking for that first break.

Woodsboro Head Coach Takes DC Job at Copperas Cove

After just one season leading Woodsboro, Gary Carpenter has accepted a job as the defensive coordinator at Class 6A Copperas Cove. Carpenter took over an incredibly young Woodsboro team in 2019 that was gutted by graduation from a team that was 12-1 in 2018 as the Eagles failed to win a game in the 2019 season. 

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Matt Stepp is the Texas High School Football Inside for Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. Find him on Twitter: @Matt_Stepp817.