SAN ANGELO, Texas — The TLCA San Angelo Eagles entered the 2023-24 offseason without a head coach, or so they thought. After dismissing former head coach Paolo Gonzalez in September last year, the school elevated Jonah Masters to serve in his place.
Under his leadership, the Eagles went on to win five games and made a playoff appearance, losing to the Crane Golden Cranes in the first round.
Many young athletes could have folded under the lack of leadership caused by their coach being fired abruptly. Yet, that was not the case for the Eagles, as TLCA San Angelo Principal Dr. Sarah Hernandez believes it was Masters' discipline that carried over and led to their teams' success.
"What really helped our students this year, specifically speaking, our football team, (was) Coach Masters was really the primary lead and led by example. When that opportunity came up for him to be considered (as our next head football coach), it was a no-brainer for me and Coach Sherill (TLCA San Angelo's Athletic Director)," Hernandez said.
The soon-to-be official head coach is 25 years old and spent the prior seasons volunteering for TLCA's football and track programs before being hired as a full-time Math teacher and athletics coach. To be considered for the job alone is hard work paying off in Masters' eyes.
"I have just built up over the years, (with) volunteering and everything, it is paying off," Masters said.
The process took some time for Masters, and he says he did not anticipate being in this situation at such a young age. Regardless of what his birth certificate says, he is discussed as being wise beyond his years.
"He is so wise, so genuine. I did not realize he was a 20-something year old, he just carries himself with that level of discipline and focus, but he is also humble and can help our students on and off the field," Hernandez said.
An official introduction for Masters will be coming shortly, and as the leader of this program, Masters says his philosophy on and off the field will remain the same.
"Everything that I have said will remain the same (when he becomes head coach). There will be no change in my relationship with these athletes. I have said, you have to be disciplined in every little thing you do, just life, football, on and off, in the classroom, and that is my biggest thing is being a man, being disciplined, being consistent, and also being classy in everything we do, that is our focus," Masters said.
The Eagles recently moved to district 3-3A and will take on what has been referred to as the "District of Doom" for the 2024 season and beyond. Summer workouts begin on July 31st.