Before the 2026 Texas High School Football season kicked off, Texas HS Football Editor in Chief KP Kelly sat down with Breckenridge head football coach and athletic director Casey Pearce at the Hudl booth during the THSCA Coaching School and Convention.
Now that the season is underway, the conversation offers a look back at what Pearce believed would define the Buckaroos before Week 1. He discussed Breckenridge’s identity, multi-sport athletes, full-game film study and the challenge of wearing both the head coach and athletic director hats.
For Pearce, the job also carries a personal connection. He graduated from Breckenridge High School in 1993 and returned home in 2020 to lead the same program he once played for. Before coming back, Pearce spent 14 years at Longview, where he served as defensive coordinator and head track coach. He helped the Lobos win the 2018 Class 6A Division II state championship.
His coaching career has also included stops at Stamford, Odessa Permian and Pilot Point. Football runs in the family as well, with his father, Bill Pearce, having previously served as Breckenridge’s head football coach.
Building Around Breckenridge’s Identity
Pearce told Kelly that the Buckaroos’ progress has been driven by consistency from the coaching staff and the work ethic of the players. He described Breckenridge as a blue-collar community shaped by the oilfield, ranching and generations of hard-working families.
That background fits the identity Pearce wants from his team. Breckenridge has a deep football tradition, including championship history that still carries weight in the community. Pearce said the program continues chasing that standard while trying to build something sustainable for the current generation.
Before the season, Pearce was especially interested in this senior class. It is the first group that came through the program’s pre-athletics structure after he returned to Breckenridge.
There is also a family connection. Pearce’s son is part of the senior class, making this particular season even more meaningful to him.
Pearce also had advice for head football coaches taking on athletic director responsibilities for the first time. His first point was simple: organization has to become a priority.
He said coaches need a weekly plan, even though the job constantly forces adjustments. Emails, texts, schedules and administrative questions can pile up quickly. However, Pearce stressed that the central responsibility never changes: taking care of kids.
Why Multi-Sport Athletes Matter
One of Pearce’s biggest offseason priorities was supporting multi-sport athletes.
Breckenridge shares many athletes across football, basketball, baseball and track. During the summer, those same players can also be involved in 7-on-7, summer basketball, baseball and travel teams.
Instead of fighting that reality, Pearce said the Buckaroos try to build around it. The staff moved summer workouts earlier in the day, giving athletes more flexibility to work jobs and participate in other sports.
Pearce believes specialization can create problems when athletes train the same way throughout the year. In his view, competing in multiple sports creates a more complete athlete and can reduce some of the concerns surrounding overtraining.
Additionally, different sports force players to accept different roles. A football starter might come off the bench in basketball, while another athlete could become a leader in track or baseball.
Pearce believes those experiences can produce better teammates and more adaptable athletes.
Pearce Still Wants Players Watching Full Games
Technology has transformed film study, but Pearce does not want players relying only on highlights and cutups.
He told Kelly that young athletes are surrounded by short-form content. They can watch top plays without ever seeing how an entire football game develops.
Breckenridge tries to sit down with players and watch at least two full games each week. Coaches may move quickly through certain portions, but Pearce wants athletes to understand tempo, momentum and the emotional swings of a Friday night game.
He also wants film sessions to be interactive rather than coaches simply talking at players.
Pearce encourages athletes to ask questions and explain what they see. When a player approaches a coach and asks whether he noticed something on film, Pearce sees that as evidence the player is becoming invested in preparation.
That understanding becomes especially important on defense. Linebackers, safeties and defensive linemen can study alignments, splits and tendencies before Friday night.
Pearce also believes offensive linemen benefit greatly from detailed film study. Modern linemen, particularly centers, need to identify fronts, understand adjustments and solve problems before a coach can make another play call.
Hudl Beyond Football Film
Pearce’s use of Hudl extends beyond coaching film.
As Breckenridge’s athletic director, he said the district has integrated scheduling and ticketing into Hudl. That has helped him keep multiple sports organized while making it easier to adjust schedules and add postseason events.
The fan-facing side has become important as well.
Pearce said the platform gives parents, grandparents and community members more opportunities to follow Breckenridge athletes. That visibility is especially valuable in a community where school sports remain closely connected to local families.
For coaches, Hudl still comes back to preparation. Pearce believes video can help players recognize what they will see, apply rules when an opponent changes something and solve problems without waiting for a coach to fix everything.
A Senior Class Pearce Had Been Waiting to Coach
When Kelly asked what Pearce was most looking forward to before the season, his answer centered on the senior class.
Pearce has watched this group develop from the beginning of his return to Breckenridge. He described the seniors as tight-knit and said watching them finally reach this point would make the season special.
The interview also revealed a few lighter details about the Buckaroos’ coach. His postgame fast-food choice is Subway, specifically a six-inch meatball sandwich with pepper jack. His favorite football movie is The Longest Yard. He named Jacksboro as Breckenridge’s toughest road atmosphere and Ronnie Lott as his favorite football player.
Before the season began, Pearce believed Breckenridge’s best path forward would come from preparation, player development and a senior class that had grown up inside the program.
With the 2026 season now underway, the preseason conversation provides a look at the philosophy Pearce hoped would shape the Buckaroos once the games started counting.
