Dave Campbell's 40-Under-40

Who's Next Among Texas Coaches

Jeff BOWEN UTRGV - CO-OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Bowen was one of nine finalists for the 2025 FCS Coordinator of the Year after helping the Vaqueros average 39.6 points per game in their debut season.

Christopher BUCKNER - PRAIRIE VIEW A&M OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR

An Arlington native, Buckner led a Prairie View offense that averaged 31.57 points per game. The Panthers wonthe SWAC for the first time since 2009.

Sam DUNNAM - SMU EDGE RUSHERS COACH

The Mustangs have registered 78 sacks over the last two years, with Dunnam’s group of edge rushers leading the way. He arrived on the Hilltop in 2022.

Rob GREENE - TEXAS TECH CO-DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Greene made an immediate impact on the Texas Tech staff in his first season in Lubbock, helping the Red Raiders win the Big 12 Championship and reach the CFP.

Braden HUCKS - TARLETON STATE QUARTERBACKS COACH

Hucks enters his sixth season on the Tarleton State staff. The Texans have reached the FCS Playoffs in back-toback seasons and are 22-6 since 2024.

Wade LYTAL - TRINITY OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR

The architect of a Trinity attack that averaged more than 36 points per game in 2025. The Tigers are 48-9 overall and 34-2 in conference play with five trips to the playoffs in the last five seasons.

Jordan SHOEMAKER - TEXAS STATE OFFENSIVE LINE COACH

The former Houston offensive lineman arrived at Texas State with head coach G.J. Kinne ahead of the 2023 season. He was the OL coach at UIW from 2018-22.

Antonio WILCOX - TCU RUNNING BACKS COACH

Wilcox follows new TCU OC Gordon Sammis to Fort Worth after leading a UConn rushing attack that produced the school’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2019.

Jonathan WILSON - RICE RUNNING BACKS COACH

Wilson was the head coach at Klein Forest, his alma mater, before moving to the collegiate level, where he was at SFA in 2024 and Rice in 2025.

Rick BOWIE - UTSA OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Bowie returns to Texas after spending 2025 in charge of Western Kentucky’s offense. He was the OC at Abilene Christian in 2024 and was on the Houston staff from 2019-21.

Jamar CHANEY - BAYLOR INSIDE LINEBACKERS COACH

The former All-SEC linebacker is entering his third season as Baylor’s inside linebackers coach, where he’s mentored stars such as Keaton Thomas and Matt Jones.

Caid FASKE - STEPHEN F. AUSTIN DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Faske returns to SFA, where he led the defensive end room from 2019-22. He’s spent the last three years as the DC at Colorado State-Pueblo.

Brandon HARRIS - TEXAS GENERAL MANAGER

The Longhorns annually boast one of the most talent-richmrosters in college football, and Harris, who became the Texas GM in 2024, is the architect.

Tony JEROD-EDDIE  - TEXAS A&M DEFENSIVE LINE COACH

The former DeSoto Eagle was a four-year letterman at Texas A&M who played multiple years in the NFL. Jerod-Eddie has served as an on-field assistant since late 2023.

Craig NEECE - UTEP OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS COACH

Neece arrives in El Paso after leading a Hardin-Simmons defense that led the American Southwest Conference in scoring defense and total defense in 2025.

Marcus TRICE - HOUSTON CORNERBACKS COACH

Trice joins the Houston staff after two successful years coaching the CBs at SFA, helping the Lumberjacks win the Southland Conference and reach the FCS Playoffs in 2025.

HIGH SCHOOL

Cason COX - CRANFILLS GAP HEAD COACH

At 23 years old, Cox is one of the youngest head coaches in Texas high school football history, improving Cranfills Gap — total enrollment: 41 — from 1 win to 4 in his first season.

Danny DUDGEON - GODLEY HEAD COACH

In three seasons at Clyde, Dudgeon turned the Bulldogs from 1-9 in 2021 to 11-2 in 2023. He enters his third season at Godley, where he’s led the Wildcats to a pair of playoff appearances.

Jordan GILL - GUNTER HEAD COACH

Gill took over a Gunter program with sky-high expectations last offseason and delivered, leading the Tigers to a 13-2 record and a state semifinal appearance.

Malcolm HILL - PFLUGERVILLE WEISS HEAD COACH

Hill took over at Weiss in early June last year, and in Year 1 he guided the Wolves to a 10-3 mark, their best season in school history.

Kolby HULL - THE WOODLANDS CHRISTIAN HEAD COACH

Hull helped to build up TWCA as an assistant; after returning as head coach, he’s 29-18 in three seasons, including an 11-1 mark in 2025, the most wins since 2019, when he was an assistant.

Jordan JOHNSON - FRIENDSWOOD HEAD COACH

Friendswood alum Jordan Johnson enters his fourth season at his alma mater. He’s led the Mustangs to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.

Casey DICK - ROCKWALL-HEATH HEAD COACH

Allen alum Casey Dick returns to his native Texas after a strong stint at Arkansas powerhouse Fayetteville High, where he led the Bulldogs to a 7A state title in 2023.

JB FRONTZ- EL PASO EASTLAKE HEAD COACH

Frontz, who served as the interim head coach at Eastlake for the latter part of the 2025 season, now gets his shot to lead one of the Sun City’s top programs full-time.

Sergio GONZALEZ - PASADENA RAYBURN HEAD COACH

Leading a program that hadn’t made the playoffs since 1997, Gonzalez switched to the Slot-T offense, and it immediately paid off, improving to 4-6 in his fourth season.

Kendrick HOLLOWAY - RICHARDSON HEAD COACH

Richardson hadn’t won a playoff game since 1992 before Holloway took over in 2023. After going 4-6 in his debut season, the Eagles made the area playoffs in consecutive years.

Matt HURST - WACO LIVE OAK HEAD COACH

Tasked with the difficult job of transitioning Live Oak from six-man to 11-man ball, Hurst has flourished with the Falcons, going 14-9 in their first two seasons on the big field.

Drew JOHNSTON - NEWTON HEAD COACH

Johnston, who took over for his late father W.T. Johnston in 2019, has posted an impressive 74-16 record in seven seasons and led the Eagles to the 3A Division II title game in 2025.

Wade LAWSON - WASKOM HEAD COACH

Lawson has been a head coach for 11 seasons and has been a consistent winner, posting an 82-41 record with nine seasons at Joaquin and the last two at Waskom.

Travis McCLAIN - MOUNT VERNON HEAD COACH

McClain, who spent two seasons at Rivercrest, has a three year record of 17-15 after leading Mt. Vernon to a 6-5 record and a playoff appearance in his first season in 2025.

Cody MOORE - ROUND ROCK HEAD COACH

Moore has led the Dragons to a playoff appearance in each of his first three seasons at the helm, and they expect to be in the title mix in the new District 25-6A.

Trevor OWENS - PEASTER HEAD COACH

In three seasons, Owens has turned Peaster into a state power, posting a 26-12 record. He led the Greyhounds to a 13-2 mark and a 3A Division I state semifinal berth in 2025.

Kevin SALAZAR - GOLIAD HEAD COACH

After a winless debut in 2020, Salazar has led the Tigers to five straight playoff appearances, including three straight 10-win seasons and three straight regional semifinals.

Drenard WILLIAMS - BEAUMONT UNITED HEAD COACH

Williams returned to his hometown in 2025, and all he did in his first season was lead United to its first winning season in school history and the Timberwolves’ first playoff win.

David McHUGH - CORPUS CHRISTI MILLER HEAD COACH

One of the bright young assistants on the coast, McHugh led Bishop to the playoffs in his debut season. He now takes over at the Coastal Bend powerhouse.

Thavis MILLER - CLARKSVILLE HEAD COACH

Miller has brought stability to Clarksville, posting a 12-10 record and two playoff appearances in his two seasons leading the Tigers.

Lee MUNN - SOUTHLAKE CARROLL HEAD COACH

The longtime defensive coordinator gets his chance to lead one of the state’s most storied programs after Riley Dodge departed to join the staff at SMU.

Jason REYNOLDS - NATALIA HEAD COACH

Reynolds is fast-tracking a rebuild at Natalia. After going 1-9 in 2024, the Mustangs improved to 5-5 in his second season and enter 2026 with plenty of optimism.

Jon WARD - NEW HOME HEAD COACH

Ward has helped establish the Leopards as a 2A power, posting a 56-28 record in seven seasons, with 10 or more wins in three of the last four years.

Jeremy WILLIAMS - WEST MESQUITE HEAD COACH

Williams posted a 23-20 record in four years at San Antonio Sam Houston, playing in 5A despite having a 4A enrollment. He enters his first season as head coach at West Mesquite.