Vote: Who was best Texas high school football coach in 2023?

From DeSoto's Claude Mathis to Brownsville Veterans' J.C. Ramirez, who had bet coaching job across Lone Star State in 2023?

Who was the best Texas high school football coach in 2023? After going region-by-region and honoring the top players in the Lone Star State this past season, and releasing our All-Texas team and statewide postseason awards, we identified five coaches in each of the top six regions.

Catch up on our All-East Texas, All-West Texas, All-South Texas, All-North Texas, All-Southeast Texas and All-Central Texas teams and awards. Then, our All-Texas team and awards.

All-Texas high school football teams, awards: Terry Bussey is State Player of Year

Now, we want to hear from you. 

Scroll down and read up on 30 coaches to consider and cast your vote for your winner in the poll below:

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TOP 30 TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACHES IN 2023

Claude Mathis talks to DeSoto players after a UIL 6A Division II semifinal win over Southlake Carroll in early December 2023 / Photo by Michael Horbovetz

NORTH TEXAS

Robby Jones, Aledo

The coordinator-turned-head coach guided the Bearcats to the Class 5A Division I title in his first year at the helm. It was the school’s 12th title.

Claude Mathis, DeSoto

The Eagles capped off a perfect season — 15-0 — by winning the Class 6A Division II finals for the second year in a row. In the process, DeSoto set a state record for most points school in the championship game and finished ranked No. 2 in the country (SBLive/SI Power 25).

Kendall Miller, Frisco Emerson

He took a new program last year and won 9 games. This year, they won 12 and reached the state semifinals in Class 5A Division II.

Seth Parr, Anna

He left his West Texas roots and came to DFW in 2021. He led the Coyotes to the Class 4A Division I title in Year 3, the school's first.

Reginald Samples, Duncanville

He led the Panthers to a second straight Class 6A Division I title and the only setback this year came against DeSoto.

-- Cody Thorn

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CENTRAL TEXAS

Larry Hill, Smithson Valley

This has been nothing but a season to remember for the longtime Ranger head coach. Earlier this season, he reached the 300 win mark and his Smithson Valley Rangers clinched a berth in the state championship for the first time since 2005.

Nick Rogers, San Antonio Pieper

From a two win season a year ago to a final 12-2 record in 2023 and a regional final appearance, it is safe to say that the Pieper Warrior program announced themselves as a power in the Lone Star State. 

David Saenz, Cibolo-Steele

The Knight head coach has built a strong tradition of winning and that was certainly the case as Steele advanced to the TX-6A, Division 2 state semifinals. Saenz and his Knights were able to claim a district-27 championship and a Region IV title this season finishing with a 13-2 record. 

Tony Salazar, Austin-Westlake

In two years as head coach of the Chaparrals, Salazar has done nothing but win. Westlake is 28-2 in his first two years as head coach and has taken his Chaps to back-to-back state semifinal appearances. Despite not having the strongest offensive team as recent years, Salazar and the Chaps pride themselves on a strong tradition of hard work, film study, and an extensive offseason program.

JD Zimmerhanzel, San Antonio Davenport

In just their third season of varsity play, Zimmerhanzel and his Wolves have posted three straight winning seasons. In fact, with an 11-4 record this season, this was their second straight 10 win season and the program’s first trip to the TX-4A Division 1 state semifinals.

-- Ryan Childers

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SOUTHEAST TEXAS

Kenny Harrison, Humble Summer Creek

He was one of two Touchdown Club of Houston UIL Coach of the Year winners this season. He guided the Bulldogs to a state semifinals for the first time and a win over Cibolo Steele turned into the first trip to the finals in Class 6A Division II.

Willie Gaston, Galena Park North Shore

The former Baltimore Ravens cornerback led the Mustangs to the Class 6A Division I title game this year. The coordinator under Jon Kay — who went to Rice as an assistant — saw his squad upset Austin Westlake on the key back to Arlington.

Trent Miller, Willis

Having one of the best quarterbacks in the country was helpful for Willis, but Miller saw the team make big strides in 2023. After a 5-5 showing in 2022, the Wildcats were 12-1 and only loss to Class 6A Division II champion DeSoto in his second season.

Ray Garza, Alvin Iowa Colony

The second year program made big strides, going from 2-7 to 12-1. The only loss came against Class 4A Division I runner-up Tyler Chapel Hill in the third round of the playoffs.

Jeff Joseph, Port Neches-Groves

The former Southlake Carroll assistant coach guided the Indians to the state title game his first year. For the encore, he led Port Neches-Groves back to AT&T Stadium and this time brought home a championship with an upset of Dallas South Oak Cliff.

-- Cody Thorn

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SOUTH TEXAS

J.R. Castellano, Alice

Castellano had big shoes to fill following the departure of head coach Kyle Atwood. The first-year head coach stepped in almost seamlessly, with the Coyotes posting a 10-2 overall record and capturing the program’s first district title since 2008. Castellano’s first-year success didn’t end with a district title, also leading the Coyotes on their deepest playoff run since 2017 with a Region IV-4A DI semifinal appearance. The Coyotes 21-7 regular season victory over rival Calallen was the icing on the cake of Castellano’s first year at the helm, marking just the program’s third victory over Calallen since 1922 and first since 2012.

Justen Evans, Corpus Christi Miller

Corpus Christi Miller recorded it’s best season since 1963 this year, going 13-1 overall en route to a Region IV-5A DI final appearance. The Buccaneers also secured it’s first district title since 2019 this season and second under Evans, going 7-0 during league play. Evans and the Buccaneers’ historic run resulted in him becoming the winningest head coach in program history, sitting at 62-23 in seven years at the helm.

J.C. Ramirez, Brownsville Veterans

Year 1 for any head football coach is always one to remember. For Brownsville Veterans head coach J.C. Ramirez it was an extra special one, leading the Chargers to their first state semifinal berth in program history during his first year at the helm. The Chargers didn’t start off on the best footing, going 2-2 during non-district play. Once league play kicked off, however, the Chargers took it to another level, closing the regular season out with six straight wins. They carried that momentum into the postseason, extending their streak to 10 straight wins before falling to Smithson Valley in the Class 5A DI state semis.

Roy Stroman, Weslaco High

Weslaco High played the underdog role most of the season, with many picking the Panthers to finish fourth in the always tough-district 32-6A. The Panthers silenced the doubters, going unbeaten in the regular season for the first time since 1991 en route to their first district title under Stroman. Weslaco High finished the year 11-1 overall, with their season ending in the Class 6A DII area round.

Frank Villaneuva, Roma

The Roma Gladiators trusted the process in head coach Frank Villanueva over the past six years, battling through five straight losing seasons and just one playoff appearance during his first six seasons. Villanueva repaid the Gladiators’ faithful with a memorable run this year, leading Roma to its first ever district title and its second straight playoff appearance. The Gladiators finished the season 9-2 overall, setting a record for most wins in a season. 

-- Ivan Palacios

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WEST TEXAS

Wes Boatmun, Sunray

After losing in the area round of the playoffs in 2022, the Bobcats hit their stride in this year’s postseason. Sunray finished 12-3 and made it to the Class 2A Division II state semifinals, where it fell to defending champion Albany. Boatmun took over as head coach of the program in 2020.

Denney Faith, Albany

The fifth-winningest coach in Texas high school football history, Faith guided the Lions to a perfect 16-0 season and their second-straight state title — and fourth overall — with a 28-10 over Mart in the Class 2A Division II championship. Now in his 41st year coaching at Albany, Faith is 347-110-4.

Mike Fullen, Abilene

After the Eagles finished 6-7 in 2022, Fullen engineered a huge turnaround by guiding Abilene to an 11-3 campaign that included playoff wins over El Paso Hanks, Denton Ryan and Justin Northwest. State champ Aledo ended Abilene’s season, 56-21. He became Abilene’s head coach in 2019.

Jon Murphy, Stratford

The Elks had their second-straight one-loss season, but this time they advanced three rounds deeper in the playoffs in Murphy’s first year at the helm. Stratford beat Sundown, Stamford, New Deal and Hawley in the Class 2A Division I playoffs before falling to Tolar, 35-7, in the state semis. He was an assistant coach at Stratford for eight seasons before taking over in 2023.

Cliff Watkins, Glen Rose

After going 1-3 with a killer non-district schedule that included Texarkana Pleasant Grove, Wichita Falls Hirschi, Wimberley and eventual state champ Gunter to start the season, Watkins led the Tigers to 10 straight wins. Glen Rose made it all the way to the state semis, where it fell to eventual Class 3A Division I state champion Malakoff, 38-31, to finish 11-4.

-- Chuck Cox

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EAST TEXAS

Jamie Driskell, Malakoff

One-hundred-and-two years is a long time to wait for a state championship. Driskell and the Tigers finally delivered a title for the Tigers with a 14-7 win over the defending champs in the Class 3A Division I championship game. During his 14-year tenure as head coach, Malakoff has been one of the top programs in the state, winning 10 district titles, advancing to the state semifinals four times and the state title game twice.

Alan Metzel, Gilmer

In his fourth season at the helm, Metzel led the Buckeyes back to the promised land. Gilmer won its fourth state championship by holding off favored Bellville, 28-26, in the Class 4A Division II state championship game. The Buckeyes finished 13-3, and they did not win district, but claimed their first state title since 2014. Metzel is 52-8 in four seasons as head coach of the Buckeyes.

Davin Nelson, Daingerfield

One of the most storied programs in the state, Daingerfield put together a solid 11-4 season that included playoff wins over New Waverly, Hooks, West Rusk and Newton. Tidehaven edged the Tigers, 21-14, in the Class 3A Division II state semifinals. Nelson became head coach at Daingerfield in 2018. The Tigers have won six state titles, with their last one coming in 2010.

Jeff Riordan, Tyler Chapel Hill

Playing in one of the toughest districts in East Texas, 9-4A Division I, the Bulldogs avenged a regular-season loss to Kilgore in the playoffs on their way to playing in the state championship game. Riordan took over at Chapel Hill in 2019. In the last three seasons, the Bulldogs are a combined 36-10 with two trips to the state title game.

Kerry Therwhanger, Timpson

What a way to ride off into the sunset. After knocking on the door for the last three seasons, the Bears busted through in a big way with the program’s first state championship. Timpson blasted Tolar, 49-7, in the Class 2A Division I state championship game to finish 16-0. The Bears made it to the state semifinals each of the previous three seasons. Therwhanger announced his retirement after title and finishes 81-24 in eight seasons at the helm.

-- Chuck Cox | @sblivetx