Pending final approval by the HPISD Board of Trustees, Rodney Webb has been named the new Athletic Director for Highland Park ISD. Coach Webb has 32 years of high school coaching experience and 19 years of experience as either an Athletic Director or Campus Athletics Coordinator. This past year, in just his second season there, he coached Denton Guyer’s football team all the way to the Class 6A State Final.
“With our record number of UIL Lone Star Cups, state championships and, of course, recent champion athletes at the professional level, it is not a stretch to say that Highland Park ISD has had unparalleled success in athletics,” Superintendent Dr. Tom Trigg said. “We were searching for someone who knows how to sustain and build upon a strong program, who is a respected leader with strong character and who has a strong track record of supporting and promoting all boys’ and girls’ sports. We believe we have found all of those characteristics in Coach Rodney Webb.”
Coach Webb served as the President of the Texas High School Coaches’ Association from 2018-2021, a position previously held by retiring AD Johnny Ringo and legendary coach Randy Allen. Currently, he is a member of the Texas High School Coaches’ Educational Foundation Board of Directors and has experience with the UIL Legislative Council, State Executive Committee, and Waiver Committee. He has led football teams to the state semifinals four different times and is a six-time recipient of District Coach of the Year honors.
“When you talk about a tradition of excellence in Texas high school athletics, Highland Park leads every discussion,” said Webb. “I love coaching and working with student-athletes, but an opportunity to lead a storied program with decades of success is one that is extremely exciting to me. I love being part of a team, and I am looking forward to impacting the kids and the Park Cities community in a positive way.”
Prior to taking over at Denton Guyer, Coach Webb spent seven seasons as Head Football Coach at Rockwall High School. During his tenure at Rockwall, the Yellowjackets went 60-29. They won more playoff games than in any other seven-year span in more than 100 years of Rockwall football, advancing to the Area round or further in each of Webb’s seven seasons, including a run to the 6A State Semifinals in 2019.
Webb spent the previous five years as the Head Football Coach at Mesquite Horn High School, where he guided the Jaguars to the playoffs every year of his tenure, reaching the State Quarterfinals in 2010.
“Coach Webb is highly respected in the coaching profession as a person with class and character. I am excited to have him as the director of the Highland Park athletic program,” Boys Athletic Coordinator and Head Football Coach Randy Allen said. “He has been the Athletic Coordinator of very successful programs at Rockwall and Denton Guyer, and he has served in statewide leadership positions because of the respect he has earned from the 30,000 high school coaches in Texas.”
“I am excited for Coach Webb to join the HPISD family.” Girls Athletic Coordinator and Head Girls Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Susan Bailey said. “I was impressed with his experience, enthusiasm and passion for education, and I look forward to working under his leadership.”
Coach Webb played football at Tarleton State University, where he earned All-American and Team MVP honors in 1989. He was inducted into the Tarleton Hall of Fame in 2007. He is a 1986 graduate of North Garland High School.
While at Tarleton, he met and married his wife of 30 years, Fran, who is currently a teacher at Guyer High School. They have one daughter, Gracy, who is currently pursuing her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Oklahoma City University.
Coach Webb will begin his position in July 2022, succeeding Johnny Ringo, who announced retirement earlier this year.