A DFW legend gets his chance to be a head coach as Dallas Gateway Charter Academy, located in Oak Cliff on the southern edge of the Dallas city limits, promoted assistant coach Byron Eaton to lead the struggling Gators football program.

Eaton, who spent 2024 on staff at Gateway, is a legend in Dallas having led Dallas Lincoln to a state championship game appearance in football in 2004 and as a freshman was part of Lincoln’s mythical national championship basketball team.

Eaton went on to a successful career on the hardwood at Oklahoma State where was a four-year starter for the Cowboys averaging over 14 points and nearly six assists per game.

He takes over Gateway, which has struggled since joining UIL football in 2010. The Gators had just one winning season, a 6-5 mark back in 2014. A year ago the Gators finished the season 2-6-1. They had one game that was called in the second half due to a security concern and they forfeited three games. The most high-profile forfeit took place when they took on district rival Cedar Hill TLC and TLC refused to play citing poor field conditions.

Dallas Gateway plays in 8-3A Division II with Cedar Hill TLC, Scurry-Rosser, Blooming Grove, Rice and Dallas Inspired Vision.