Burnout and Mental Health Crisis Drive High Turnover Among Texas Football Coaches

A Career Cut Short: The Challenges Facing High School Football Coaches in Texas

Matt Swinnea’s career as a high school football coach had a promising start. In 2021, he led Frisco Liberty to a 10-2 record, marking the second-most wins in school history. This was a remarkable turnaround for a program that had gone 0-10 just three years earlier. However, by 2025, Swinnea found himself stepping away from coaching after six years at the helm. His decision came after a period of struggle, with the team posting a 1-29 record over the past three seasons.

The turning point for Swinnea was an October game against Prosper Walnut Grove, where his team only had 28 players on the varsity roster. This number is typically seen in smaller classifications and represented less than 2% of the school’s total enrollment. “I’m a competitive person, and we were really no longer competitive,” Swinnea said. “I lost 29 games in a row. I had a 10-win season in 2021 and then boom, we fell off the face of the earth.”

Swinnea retired at the age of 56 after a 35-year career, leaving behind a legacy of hard work and dedication. His departure highlights a broader trend in high school football across Texas, where many coaches are facing increasing pressures and challenges.

The Changing Landscape of Coaching

The profession has evolved significantly in recent years, with head coaches often taking on additional roles such as athletic coordinators or district athletic directors. This added responsibility has led to longer hours and less time for personal life. According to Joe Martin, executive director of the Texas High School Coaches Association, the job has become more demanding than ever, with greater pressure to build winning programs quickly and less time off during the offseason.

Burnout and mental health challenges are also contributing to the high attrition rate in the coaching profession. Martin noted that there is about a 20% attrition rate each year, with many coaches leaving due to the intense demands of the job. Social media has also played a role, creating additional stress and mental health issues for coaches.

The Impact of Coaching Changes

This offseason, 21% of 11-man public schools statewide brought in a new football head coach. The Texas High School Coaches Association’s 93rd annual convention and coaching school in San Antonio will see 16,000 to 17,000 attendees, many of whom are still job hunting. As of Monday, there had been 235 football head coaching changes at UIL schools statewide, with Class 2A seeing the most turnover.

Of the schools that made changes, 150 had a losing record last season. At least 57 of the coaches who left have given up coaching high school football, with 33 retiring, 18 taking non-coaching jobs in high school administration, four moving to jobs outside education, and two transitioning to college positions.

The Dallas Area and Coaching Turnover

The Dallas area has accounted for 10% of the state’s coaching changes, with 23 UIL schools in D-FW set to have new head coaches this season. There were 16 head coaching changes locally the year before. Three local school districts had multiple head coaching changes this offseason, including five in Dallas ISD, four in Frisco ISD, and three in Mesquite ISD.

Dallas ISD made salary adjustments in 2022 to place its head football coaches among the highest paid in North Texas. However, despite these efforts, some coaches have still chosen to leave the profession.

Alarming Workload and New Challenges

Recruiting has changed significantly since the NCAA allowed athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness. The recent House vs. NCAA settlement has further complicated the process, making it even more challenging for high school coaches to navigate. Prep athletes in Texas can’t get paid until they reach college, but it often falls on their high school coach to help them through this intricate process.

The UIL now allows more time for coaches to work with their athletes during the offseason and summer, which is a positive development. However, it also means more hours away from family and less time to recharge before the next season.

Mental Health and Support

The THSCA has partnered with Dell Children’s Ascension to support the mental health and wellness of both student-athletes and coaches. Martin emphasized the importance of this collaboration, noting that it’s not just about helping students but also ensuring that coaches are mentally healthy and safe.

The Age Difference and New Opportunities

John Fish, a former head coach at Woodrow Wilson, moved to Frisco Heritage after spending several years as the offensive coordinator at Frisco Lone Star. He praised Frisco ISD for providing resources and time for its employees to grow as head coaches. Fish also noted demographic changes and the growth of boom towns as factors driving coaches to move.

New coaches are entering the profession with different expectations and backgrounds. Many are not traditional football coaches, and some come into the profession as a Plan B due to a shortage of teachers. This shift has created new challenges for the coaching community.

The Future of High School Football

Despite the challenges, there are opportunities for growth and change. The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is expanding, creating new opportunities for young coaches. However, the profession remains demanding, with many coaches feeling unsupported and unappreciated.

As the landscape continues to evolve, the need for support, resources, and understanding of the unique pressures faced by high school coaches becomes increasingly important.