In any realignment year, the number of coaching changes in Texas High School Football takes a leap and this off-season was no different as a total of 221 UIL schools from Class 6A down to Class 2A will have new coaches in the 2018 season.

Who are the teams with new leaders on the sidelines that we are keeping the closest eye on when things kick off on August 30? The storylines are varied and numerous across the state and each program has different challenges ahead, but the beauty of Texas High School Football is there’s always something interesting going on in our great state.

Is there a team or new head coach that we left out that we should look at? Let me know matt.stepp@texasfootball.com

Klein Collins

The Houston area definitely had the state’s highest concentration of high-profile job changes this year and Klein Collins ranks near the top without question. Former head coach Drew Svboda developed the Tigers into one of the most consistent teams in Houston and also one of the most physical and that identity definitely worked in their favor the past two years with a state semi-final run in 2016 and an 11-1 season in 2017. Longtime assistant Adrian Mitchell, who was the offensive coordinator and then moved to defensive coordinator last year, takes over and there’s no question that the bar is still as high as ever when you return one of the state’s top backs in Isaiah Spiller, a veteran QB and a defense that will once again be one of the quickest and most physical you’ll see in the Houston area.

DeSoto

In news that first came down on DCTF’s own Texas Football Today, Todd Peterman resigned his post at one of the DFW area’s most high programs just a little over a year after winning a state title. After a highly public coaching search, DeSoto ISD brought in former North Mesquite head coach Mike Robinson to try and take the Eagles back to their 2016 heights after a “disappointing” 10-2 campaign in 2017. Robinson is a longtime resident of DeSoto and certainly knows the terrain and high expectations that come with the position. How much will that pressure cooker turn up if the Eagles don’t play well? DeSoto has a difficult opener on the road at Odessa Permian and then have to take on Dallas Jesuit and private school power Dallas Bishop Dunne in non-district. A slow start could mean an already volatile situation gets worse as the Eagles are in one of the state’s toughest districts, but a fast start for the Eagles and all of a sudden the good vibes get going and DeSoto could emerge as a real contender in Region I once again.

Clear Brook

The Mike Allison era didn’t last long at Clear Brook but it had some success with a trip to the third round of the playoffs in 2016 and a winning record in 2017. In steps Lupe Florez to try and keep that positive trend going. Florez turned around a down-trodden Bay City program in his most recent stop and was the offensive coordinator for multiple state title teams at Cameron Yoe, so he knows winning programs when he sees them and when he spoke to DCTF after taking the job, he was adamant he thought the Wolverines had the pieces in place to win. District 24-6A is going to be as tough as ever with Clear Springs, Clear Lake and Dickinson headlining things and an improved Clear Creek and Clear Falls squad provide plenty of potential land mines as well.

San Antonio Warren

Talking to folks in the Alamo City, there’s a quiet confidence about the Warren Warriors heading into their first season under new head coach Jeff Robbins. The former defensive coordinator inherits a defense that should be one of the best in all of Region IV with nine returning starters. Robbins will keep things pretty much the same as they were under Bryan Dausin who was the only head coach the school had ever known, but don’t be surprised if there is a tweak or two to things. The defensive trio of DL Caleb Williams and LB’s Eli Huron and Aiava Lealaimatafao will be a handful for the offenses in District 28-6A, but the big question for San Antonio Warren will be, can their young offense be up to the task? If they are, then Warren could compete with O’Connor for the district title and if not they’ll be fighting for a playoff spot at the end of the season.