It’s official — the Monterey Plainsmen have their new leader, and it’s someone who already knows the locker room well.
In news first reported by Randy Rosetta of Hub City Preps, Lubbock ISD promoted offensive coordinator Jason Sims to head football coach and athletic coordinator at Monterey High School on Wednesday morning. The school board approved the move in a special meeting, making permanent what had already felt like a natural fit.
Sims stepped up this spring when former head coach Judd Thrash was placed on administrative leave following an April 5 DWI arrest. With Sims guiding the program through workouts, it didn’t take long for buzz to build around his potential promotion — and now it’s a reality.
“I’m honored to step into this role and continue the work we’ve started here at Monterey,” Sims said. “It’s a special place, and I’m committed to helping our student-athletes grow as players and as young people.”
Sims joined the Monterey staff in 2024 after two years at Mount Pleasant and immediately helped the Plainsmen to a 7-5 season, including a district title and playoff win — their first outright district crown since 2002.
But this isn’t Sims’ first rodeo.
He boasts a 100-47 career record as a head coach, including deep playoff runs at Quanah and his alma mater Childress, where he led the Bobcats to a pair of regional final appearances. From 2015–2021, Childress racked up 62 wins under Sims, and even after an undefeated regular season in 2021, he was unexpectedly let go — a decision that caught many by surprise in the community.
Since then, Sims has continued to build his reputation as a sharp offensive mind and strong leader. LISD’s Executive Director of Athletics, Mike Meeks, summed it up well:
“Coach Sims is a proven leader who knows how to build programs, mentor athletes, and inspire excellence. We’re excited about the future of Plainsmen athletics under his direction.”
With Monterey trending upward and Sims now at the helm, there’s plenty of optimism that 2025 could be even better. For a program that hadn’t sniffed a district title since 2006, momentum is real — and Coach Sims seems ready to run with it.
