Howard Payne announced on Saturday that head coach Jason Bachtel was departing the program to become the offensive coordinator at Houston Christian. However, the Yellow Jackets didn’t take long to name a replacement. HPU elevated defensive coordinator and Jason’s Brother, Kevin, to head coach.

Jason Bachtel led the Yellow Jackets through the CoVID-19 pandemic and the program’s first back-to-back winning seasons since 2004-2005. He departs with a 16-9 overall record with HPU and will join the coach that began the turnaround of the Yellow Jackets football program.

Jason is known for his high-powered offenses and will serve as offensive coordinator for Houston Christian’s new head coach Braxton Hicks. Before arriving in Brownwood, Bachtel was the offensive coordinator for Argyle, who won the 2020 Class 4A Division I state championship. He also had a successful two-year run as offensive coordinator at East Texas Baptist on Brian Mayper’s staff.

Kevin Bachtel has served as HPU’s defensive coordinator for the last two seasons and has guided a turnaround for the Yellow Jackets defense. Before his arrival, HPU’s defense ranked last in the American Southwest Conference. The Yellow Jackets finished 2021 fourth in the ASC in defense and improved to third in 2022.

Before arriving in Brownwood, Bachtel was the head football coach at Edgewood High School, where he compiled a 40-17 record in five seasons and a district title in 2016. He has also spent time as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Grand Saline High School and as defensive coordinator at Wills Point.