Arlington Lamar head football coach Billy Skinner announced to his team on Monday he would be resigning from his post to take an athletic director role in another school district, that announcement is pending board approval later this evening. 

Skinner leaves his alma mater after leading that program for the past five seasons. He led the Vikings to a playoff appearance in 2025 and had them poised for a big season in 2026.

“I’ve always wanted to be an athletic director," he said. "I really love the idea of coaching coaches, serving coaches. I feel like the best way to take care of kids is to take care of coaches. There’s a rich history at the district I'm headed to and I’m thrilled to be part of that."

Skinner has been a mainstay in North Arlington. He served as an assistant coach at Lamar under Trent Fuller and Laban DeLay from 2010-2019 before taking the head coaching job at Irving MacArthur in 2020. After one season leading the Vikings, Lamar opened and Skinner returned home in 2021.

Skinner says leaving a place he’s called home for much of his life will be bittersweet. 

“Lamar is a part of me," Skinner said. "This place and this community. I hope I’ve had an impact on them, because their impact on me is immense. I simply can’t put it into words. I’m heartbroken to leave, but I know they are in great hands and I’m proud to have been the head coach of the Lamar Vikings.”

Lamar, which brings back 17 starters, has its sights set on being a player in the new District 3-6A. Don’t be surprised if defensive coordinator Zach Najarro gets named interim head coach and leads the program during the transition. The timing of the hire is late, but with the talent returning at Lamar it’ll be interesting to see what direction Arlington ISD athletics takes with this move especially considering Lamar is in the midst of spring practice.