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Lake Highlands High School has a history of producing great coaches, both from its student ranks and its coaching staff. LHHS 1975 grad Lynn Jensen, who coached football for 16 years in LH and years more in Garland ISD and Dallas ISD, says theres something unique about the neighborhood, the athletes, the families and the school.

Its a heartfelt thing, says Jensen. It speaks to the specialness of this community. You hear people gritching sometimes, but its a pretty special place.

In September, Jensen took a job as assistant director of athletics for Bishop Dunne Catholic School. Hes one of many former Wildcat coaches and players now working for high school and college athletic departments across the country. You can read more about him here.

Kent Laster, another alum, is head football coach at Wacos University High School.

Football is a passionate game, Laster told the Waco Tribune-Herald, and he encourages his players to seek PRIDE in their game and in their life passion, respect, integrity dedication and excellence.

Everybody is bought into holding up the trophy, are you bought into the daily process it takes to get there? That is the key.

NFL Pro Bowler Phil Dawson holds the Cleveland Browns franchise record for the most field goals made. He still has 13 records at the University of Texas, and he kicked a game-winning 50-yarder against Virginia in 1995. Despite playing for the Browns, the 49ers and the Cardinals, he says his finest mentors were from his high school days.

The greatest coaches I ever had were my high school coaches at Lake Highlands High School in Dallas, Texas, both on and off the field, Dawson told KVUE TV. The impact that they had on my life kind of began this dream in me to one day coach. Little did I know I would play [in the NFL] so long, but I finally got around to it and havent regretting it one bit.

LHHS alum Dave Handal is in his first year as head coach of the Tomball Cougars. Serving as defensive coordinator last year, he took his team including his son Keegan to the state semifinals. Keegan started at middle linebacker and said the time they spent together paid off.

Having my dad as the coach, all the film study we do, it really gives me an advantage, Keegan told Houstons KPRC TV. All the game-planning he puts in, I get all the insight about it. It shows on the field. The knowledge he gives me really benefits my game.

Tomball lost in the state semifinals to another LHHS alum Denton Guyers Reed Heim. Heim has experience as an assistant coach at SMU and Baylor, and as Guyers new head coach he won playoff games against Flower Mound, Jesuit, Trophy Club, Prosper and Tomball before losing to Austin Westlake.

Additional alums include: Isaac Grieder as assistant coach at Lake Highlands Junior High;Mark Carey coaching the defensive line at the University of Mary Hardin Baylor; Marcus Coleman as the secondary coach at Trinity University; Brett Sawyer as defensive coordinator at Boerne High; Stoney Pryor as head coach and athletic coordinator at College Station High School, Anthony Hicks as assistant head football coach at Frisco Heritage and Kent Ackmann as boys head soccer coach at Princeton High.

At least twelve former Wildcat coaches are still leading teams of young men and women: David Gunn is head football coach at Paragould High in Arkansas; Kenny Wheaton is an offensive consultant at Harding University; Che Hendrix is head football coach in Boerne; Jason Wilson is head baseball coach in Allen; Ed Barry coaches football and track at Shelton School; Paul Maturi is assistant athletic director at Jesuit; Royce Slechta is offensive coordinator at Jesuit; Don Woods is defensive coordinator at Jesuit; Todd Holmes is athletic trainer at Jesuit; Gary Taylor coaches track and field at Sunnyvale High School; Pete Grieder is assistant wrestling coach at Bishop Lynch; and John Bandy now manages Kimbrough Stadium in Plano.

Lots more former coaches not mentioned here have gone on to serve as teachers or principals, and others have retired after being inducted into football halls of fame. In the slideshow above by photographer Mike Duhon, coaches from the state champion team of 1981 returned last Friday night to celebrate that accomplishment. Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat.

This article has been updated with additional alums and former coaches.

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Wildcat alums and coaches lead teams across the country - Lake Highlands Advocate