East Texas’ Longest-Tenured Head Football Coaches

Compared to the rest of the state, the turnover rate for high school football coaches in Texas seems considerably higher.

Take East Texas, for example. There are only six coaches that have been heading the same football program for at least 10 years. And there were 18 head coaching changes in East Texas this past offseason alone, including four who previously won state championships.

Unlike the college and pros, coaches in high school generally have no say in who walks through the fieldhouse door as freshmen on the first day of two-a-day workouts. Simply put, they must do the best with what they have.

East Texas' Longest-Tenured Head Football Coaches

T-1. Barry Norton

• School: Texas High
• Tenure: 14 seasons (1999-present)
• Record: 122-42 (.744)
• 10-win seasons: 4

T-1. Steve Pinnell

• School: Winnsboro
• Tenure: 14 seasons (1999-present)
• Record: 95-61 (.609)
• 10-win seasons: 3

3. Jeff Traylor

• School: Gilmer
• Tenure: 13 seasons (2000-present)
• Record: 148-24 (.860)
• 10-win seasons: 9

4. Wayne Gandy

• School: Joaquin
• Tenure: 11 seasons (2002-present)
• Record: 83-42 (.664)
• 10-win seasons: 3

T-5. Dale Irwin

• School: Arp
• Tenure: 10 seasons (2003-present)
• Record: 81-38 (.681)
• 10-win seasons: 4

T-5. Seven Armstrong

• School: Corrigan-Camden
• Tenure: 10 seasons (2003-present)
• Record: 81-38 (.681)
• 10-win seasons: 2

T-7. John King

• School: Longview
• Tenure: 9 seasons (2004-present)
• Record: 100-23 (.813)
• 10-win seasons: 7

T-7. Andy Evans

• School: Tatum
• Tenure: 9 seasons (2004-present)
• Record: 97-23 (.808)
• 10-win seasons: 6

T-9. Rocky Baker

• School: Carlisle
• Tenure: 8 seasons (2005-present)
• Record: 61-27 (.693)
• 10-win seasons: 2

T-9. David Plunk

• School: Hallsville
• Tenure: 8 seasons (2005-present)
• Record: 41-43 (.488)
• 10-win seasons: None

T-9. Kevin Davis

• School: Pleasant Grove
• Tenure: 8 seasons (2005-present)
• Record: 42-49 (.462)
• 10-win seasons: 1