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In certain parts of the country, high school football rivals the popularity of college and professional play. Fans show an incredible interest in the successes of local players before tracking their future careers on the gridiron.
That may be no truer than in the Lone Star State. Texas high school football consumes residents, and why wouldn’t it? They’ve got a fantastic product to watch.
The state produces the most NFL players in the nation. Yearly recruiting rankings are littered with Texas talents, many of whom go onto incredible careers with college and professional suitors.
Players often get the national headlines due to speculation on their pending future commitments. Coaches, too, have immense pressure to succeed. Those that do are paid handsomely.
11 of the highest paid Texas high school football coaches
We’ve gathered salary information on three major regions of the area. Those records, which date from 2023 to the present, show that 11 coaches in Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio make at least $150,000 per year.
The highest earner hails from Houston though more than half the list consists of Dallas/Fort Worth head coaches. One San Antonio leader made the list with a few others just missing the cut.
Again, this list includes only the three most populous cities in the state. There may be others in similar salary ranges that do not appear on this page. With that being said, it is probably a good place to start.
These are also public schools. Private schools are not obligated to release salary information.
Below are 11 of the highest paid high school football coaches in Texas.
Todd Peterman, Lake Worth
Lake Worth competes at the 4A level in Texas. While they don’t have the strongest history of success on the football field, they are willing to open up the checkbook for the right coach.
Todd Peterman led the group in 2024. He was paid $150,000 to do so despite posting a 2-8 record.
Richard Barrett, Kennedale
Kennedale is another 4A program that’s located in Arlington. They have a recent history of success, ranking as high as No. 3 in their state division standings within the last decade.
The last few seasons have seen a bit of a decline. Still, head coach Richard Barrett is making $150,793 annually.
Larry Hill, Smithson Valley
Hill won a state championship with Smithson Valley in 2024. He’s been with the school for more than three decades and is currently the winningest active coach in San Antonio.
The five-time state title participant is a Texas high school football legend. He’s paid as such at $152,300 per year.
Lee Wiginton, Allen
Allen is one of the top schools in the state, boasting a No. 4 ranking at the 6A level. They have not missed the playoffs since 1998 and have won five state championships since 2008.
Notable alumni include Kyler Murray, Greg Little, and General Booty. Head coach Lee Wiginton is reaping the benefits of success with an annual salary of $153,560.
Gary Joseph, Katy
Katy is a Houston area high school that’s been dominant since the turn of the century. The Tigers have won five 5A titles and two 6A titles since 2000.
Gary Joseph has been at the helm for five of those championships. He made $153,877 in his 20th season on the sidelines.
John Snelson, Dickinson
Snelson was hired at the 6A Texas high school football program ahead of the 2012 season. He’s been able to build the Gators into a force over the last decade.
While he’s been unable to add the school’s only state championship, he has lost three games or less in nine of his last 11 campaigns. He’s making $154,030 for his services.
Reginald Samples, Duncanville
Duncanville is currently the No. 1 team in the state of Texas. The Panthers are considered a Top 10 program nationally after winning state titles in both 2022 and 2023.
The program nearly appeared in a third straight championship game in 2024 with Alabama QB Keelon Russell, but fell to North Crowley late in the postseason. Head coach Reginald Samples earned $156,675 that season.
Rodney Webb, Rockwall-Heath
Rockwall-Heath does not have a state title, but they seem on their way. Since 2020, they’ve worked their way up the Texas high school football rankings by stacking strong seasons.
Head coach Rodney Webb is in his third year with the program, which currently holds a Top 50 state ranking. He earned $158,862 in his most recent campaign.
Randy Allen, Highland Park
Highland Park fell in the 5A state championship last season to Smithson Valley, a team already mentioned on this list. It was the Scots’ sixth appearance in the title game over the last 20 years.
Randy Allen helped the program win four of those championship contests. He is one of Texas’s highest paid high school coaches at $158,904 per year.
Riley Dodge, Southlake Carroll
Southlake Carroll is one of the most recognized high school football programs Texas. They hold a No. 2 state ranking, as well as Top 20 national status.
The Dragons have seen star power come through the school over the years, headlined by Quinn Ewers and Greg McElroy. Riley Dodge is a former player that took over as head coach in 2018. He makes $175,000 annually.
Carl Abseck, Barbers Hill
Abseck is the highest paid coach on this list, and quite possibly the highest paid in the state. He had been at the school since 2021 following an incredible run at Cedar Park.
With his previous program, he posted a 71-10 record with two state title appearances and a championship. At Barbers Hill, he was unable to reach that level of success but did string together three straight 8-4 campaigns.
He was paid $179,917 per year at Barbers Hill but has since moved onto Lufkin.
Want to see how Texas high school football coaching salaries stack up against others around the country? Check out our list of highest paid head coaches in the state of Georgia next.