Highlands HS names new head football coach with Dallas, SA-area experience

Hank Willis Jr. inherits team that has made playoffs last two years

(Image courtesy: KSAT Digital Journalist Adrian Garcia.)

SAN ANTONIO – Hank Willis Jr. has been named the new head football coach for Highlands High School.

Willis has been the head football coach at Bryan Adams High School in Dallas, where he guided his team to a pair of state playoff berths in 2015 and 2016.

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His 2015 team won seven games, the most wins in one season for the school in 30 years.

Willis inherits an Owls team that has made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, including winning a share of the District 28-5A championship in 2016.

“I feel a great responsibility to the community and kids,” Coach Willis said. “They put their trust in me to carry on the success that has been started at Highlands High School. We’re going to work night and day to get it done. Highlands will play a very exciting brand of football next season.” 

This will be the third head football coaching position for Willis. He was also head football coach at Poteet HS in 2012 and 2013.

Willis served as an offensive coach at LD Bell HS (Hurst), South Oak Cliff HS (Dallas), Brandeis HS (San Antonio) and Arlington Sam Houston HS (Arlington).

“Hank comes highly recommended by some of the top athletic directors in the state,” SAISD Athletic Director Todd Howey said. “He has produced winning programs everywhere he has been and holds a strong reputation of demanding athletic and academic excellence."

Former Highlands head coach Juan Morales left the Owls to become the new head coach at Holmes High School.

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About the Authors

Ben Spicer is a digital journalist who works the early morning shift for KSAT.

RJ Marquez is the traffic anchor/reporter for KSAT’s Good Morning San Antonio. He also fills in as a news anchor and has covered stories from breaking news and Fiesta to Spurs championships and high school sports. RJ started at KSAT in 2010. He is proud to serve our viewers and be a part of the culture and community that makes San Antonio great.

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