Coach Will Hudgens has been named the new Head Coach of the Houston Mustang varsity football team.

Coach Hudgens was a standout quarterback at Ridgeway High School in Memphis, TN under coach John Cooley.  He then signed with the University of Memphis, where he played from 2004 to 2008.  Hudgens averaged a 107.3 passer rating, with a completion percentage of over 50% and a nearly 4 to 1 TD/INT ratio.  Coach Hudgens served as an assistant coach at Ridgeway High in 2011.  In 2012 he was Offensive Coordinator for the Houston High freshman team who went 8-0 and set new scoring marks.  Coach Hudgens teaches special education at Houston High School.

Coach Phil Thurmer came to Houston High in 1998 after Coaching 15 years at Bartlett High School. Prior to that he coached varsity football at Munford and Catholic High School. A graduate of the University of Memphis, he brings over 30 years of coaching experience to the Mustang Staff. Coach Thurmer's responsibilities include coaching the offensive & defensive lines. He and his wife Kathy have raised three sons, Shane, Scott, and Justin. Scott and Justin were both graduates of, and stand out performers on the gridiron for, Houston High School.

Coach Tim Morris came to Houston in 2002 season after serving as Cordova High School's head football coach for two seasons. The Wolves made it to the State Semi-finals and Morris was named the Commercial Appeal's BOP Coach of the Year in 2000. An 18-year coaching veteran, Coach Morris served as an assistant football coach at Bartlett from 1989-1997 and at Cordova from 1998-1999. He holds both a graduate and undergraduate degrees from the University of Memphis. Coach Morris was the quarterback for Obion County Central High School in Troy, TN. Coach Morris's wife, Julie is also a school teacher and they have a son, Gregg, and two daughters Cayce and Allie.

Coach David Schmidt grew up in Memphis, attending the University of Memphis and earning a bachelor’s degree as well as a Masters in Education.  He went is a certified personal trainer and currently is Director of Children and Recreation Ministries at First Evangelical Church. David and his wife, Liz, have six children: Stephen, Sarah, John Michael, Jared, Landon, and Caleb.

Coach Brian Field begins his seventh year at Houston High after coaching at Germantown High and Briarcrest. He is a graduate of the University of Memphis, where he was a member of the Tiger baseball team. He received his master degree from Union University. His wife, Cherlyn, is a kindergarten teacher. They have two sons, Brett who is a junior at Houston and plays baseball, and Cole who is an freshman at Houston and plays football.

Varsity

Freshman

Coach James Thomas is an alumnus of Houston High school class of '99.  He continued on to play football at the University of Arkansas where he graduated with a degree in Physical Education.  This is his 6th year working as an assistant with the freshman team.  He coaches the offensive and defensive lines.

Coach Clinton

Coach Kevin Clinton has been a Houston High school freshmen coach since 2003. He has coached high school football in New York and Missouri. Coach Clinton is the proud father of four children: Ken, Katie, Maggie and Jonathan Clinton. He has taught in the Shelby County Schools the past 10 years. 

Jr. Mustangs

Coach Steve Wilson is the 8th grade head coach.  Coach Wilson has been coaching football at the middle school program since 1997. Before coaching at Houston he coached in the GYAA program for four years. He has had the pleasure of coaching over 600 kids in the Houston Middle School program. The majority have gone on to play for the high school program with Coach Haney and some have gone on to play at the college level. Coach Wilson is married to Sally his wife of 26 years. They have three children: Josh, Andrew and Whitney.

Coach Dave Ptacek is the 7th grade head coach.

© Houston Touchdown Club 2011

Staff

Dr. Jeffrey Dlabach is the Medical Director and Team Physician.  Dr. Dlabach graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1990 and Medical School from University of Oklahoma in 1994. He completed his Orthopaedic residency at UT-Campbell Clinic in 1999 and a fellowship in Sports Medicine at the Hughston Clinic in 2000. Dr. Dlabach is a partner at OrthoOne Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine in Collierville, TN and serves as Medical Director/Team Physician for Houston High Athletics. He is Board Certified in Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine. He is licensed in TN, MS, AL, and GA.

Tripp Turner has been the Head Athletic Trainer for the Mustangs since 1996. He holds a BS in Education from the University of Memphis. Tripp is a NATA Certified Athletic Trainer. He is a member of National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) and the Tennessee Athletic Trainers' Society (TATS).  Tripp serves on the TATS Public Relations Committee, TATS Secondary Schools Committee and the TSSAA Weight Management Rules Committee.  He is a trainer at OrthoOne Orthopaedics in Collierville. Tripp and his wife Tamara have a son, Jacob.

Scott Elliott is the Voice of the Mustangs.  Scott announces the middle school, freshman and JV games each week. Originally from Texas, Scott moved to the mid-south while attending the University of Mississippi-Ole Miss. From 1975-1998 he was the college program Director in gymnastics & cheerleading for UCA/Varsity. Scott is presently the Director of Athletic ministries at Grace Evangelical Church across the street from Houston High School.