There was a huge buzz around Texas high school football and the Allen High School football program last year when they hired Chad Morris. Expectations were high and for good reason.
Morris was a successful Texas high school football head coach from 1994 to 2009. In 2009, he left Lake Travis after leading them to back-to-back state titles. He had compiled a high school coaching record of 169–38. He went on to college, first as the Offensive Coordinator for Tulsa, then Clemson, before 3 years as the SMU Head Coach and 2 years as the Arkansas Head Coach. Then, after one year as the Offensive Coordinator at Auburn, Morris took the Allen job.
The Allen Eagles had a decent season. They went 11-3. Though, in the previous 3 seasons, they lost a total of 3 games, 1 each season. They had an early loss to Humble Atascocita, 21-40. They then lost at home to Prosper, 23-28. But then, they hit their stride. They rattled off 4 dominant wins before ultimately having their season ended by Southlake Carroll, 21-47.
Allen was not in the hot seat. The prospects for Allen in 2022 look great. But, he is rumored to have a college job lined up. In a press release, Morris said:
“I am so thankful to Allen ISD for the chance to work with an amazing group of student-athletes and a dedicated coaching staff. Allen is a top-notch school system that prioritizes students above all else. I want to thank Superintendent Dr. Robin Bullock, the Board of Trustees, Administration, and Athletic Director Kim Garner for their unwavering support over the past year.”
This will be the third head coaching change in three years for Allen. It is a tough time of year to land a Head Coach. But, Allen has the resources to recruit a top coach, even if it means that coach might have to leave their current program just before summer workout programs and practices.
The easiest transition might be to hire the current Defensive Coordinator, David Branscom. Branscom was a Head Coach at San Antonio Brandeis from 2017-20 with a 37-10 record before joining Allen. There is also the Offensive Coordinator, Tristan Weber. Webber has been an assistant with Highland Park, Southlake Carroll, and Allen, but does not have Head Coaching experience.
The fun name being tossed around is Riley Dodge. Some were surprised that Riley did not replace his father Todd at Austin Westlake. Dodge has gone 52-5 in 4 years with the Dragons of Southlake Carroll. He was a candidate for the Allen job last year before Morris was hired. Dodge has a great thing going at Southlake, but he is a top candidate for this job and his name will likely be thrown around anytime a top Texas High School football job comes open, and anytime a Texas college has a head coach opening.
We do expect Allen to move quickly, as spring ball is already complete. A new Head Coach could be announced soon.
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