GHS Coaching Staff
Head Coach
Danny Russell
Coach Russell is excited to be beginning his seventh year as head coach and 25th total at GHS. He returned after being the head coach at Wichita Falls for three years where he led them to deep playoff runs in back-to-back years. Prior to that, he was the defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach at GHS from 2001--2012. A lifelong Owl he is a 1984 graduate of GHS. While there he was selected to the All-Metroplex and All-District teams in both football and baseball. He attended Panola College and the University of North Texas on baseball scholarships and captured All-Conference honors at both stops. He was the secondary coach for the 1999 state championship team and also helped coach the North all-stars to victory in the 2001 THSCA All-Star game. Coach Russell received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of North Texas in 1989 and his Master’s Degree from Lamar University in 2009. He and his lovely wife Phyllis have three beautiful children Chris, Alicia, and Cody, and three beautiful grandchildren-Macy, Dillon and Olivia
Coordinators
Alex Wilkett Offensive Coordinator Coach Wilkett is entering his twelfth-year coaching, and his first at Garland High School, and is very excited to be returning home to Garland High School where he graduated in 2009. Alex graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2013 and returned to GISD coaching at Sellers Middle School for three years before moving and coaching at Wichita Falls for three years. Coach Wilkett comes to us most recently from Newman Smith where he has been coaching Wide Receivers and Special Teams Coordinator for the past five years. He and his wife Ashley welcomed their first child, Charlie, in April of 2023. |
Kelvin Perry defensive coordinator This is Coach Perry's 21st year of coaching, most of it has been in Garland ISD. He is a product of GISD and played defensive back at Mississippi Valley State University. He is married to his beautiful wife Donya Perry and together they have two wonderful children. |
Varsity
James Maxwell H Backs Coach Maxwell grew up in Garland and was a 2003 graduate of Garland High School. He attended McPherson College in McPherson, KS on a football scholarship and graduated with a degree in Kinesiology in 2007. After graduation from McPherson, he coached running backs during the 2007 football season. Coach Maxwell is entering his ninth year at Garland and his seventeenth year overall. Prior to Garland, Coach Maxwell coached for five years in Wylie ISD at both Wylie High and Wylie East and three years at Wichita Falls High School. Coach Maxwell is married to Stephanie and they have two children (Peyton (21) and Hallie (18). |
Kyevon Rider Wide Receivers Coach Rider hails from Tyler, TX where he graduated from Whitehouse High School. While there, he lettered in 3 sports football, basketball, and track. After high school, he went on to play 4 years of college football at Texas A&M University-Commerce. This is his second-year coaching at GHS. He is excited to help grow and develop this program and most importantly each and every kid. |
Paul Westbrook Offensive Line Coach Westbrook is the varsity offensive line coach and also coaches powerlifting. He is entering his second year at GHS and his 29th year of coaching, and is a product of GISD, having graduated from South Garland High School in 1982. Coach Westbrook also attended Texas A&M University. He has coached at multiple schools in his career including Terrell, Duncanville, W.T. White, and Bonham high schools. Coach Westbrook and his wife Kathy have 4 children and three grandchildren. |
Bobby Chalk Running Backs Coach Chalk was born and raised in Garland. He is a 2004 graduate of Garland High School. He attended Iowa State University in 2004. He also played at Abilene Christian University and graduated with a degree in Kinesiology. This will be Bobby's first year coaching at Garland High School. Coach Chalk has a wife Tarqualia and 6 children Amara, Amarion, Addisyn, Kamarii, Bobby III, and Kye. |
Scott Cooper Linebackers Coach Cooper is beginning his 21st season with Garland High School. Scott graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 2004, where he majored in History and minored in Government. He also received his master's degree in educational administration from Lamar University in 2011. He is a 2000 graduate of Tuloso-Midway High School in Corpus Christi, Texas. He and his wife Stefanie have three sons, Dane (15), Brock (13) & Kade (9) |
Keelan Jackson Defensive Backs After 12 years of coaching in Garland ISD, Coach Jackson has returned to his alma mater for his second year carrying on the tradition of Garland High School and the Legacy of Garland Owl Football. While under the tutelage of then-position Coach Danny Russell, he earned All-District, All-State, and All-Star honors at Cornerback. That same year, Garland High School won the State Championship with Coach Jackson as their Co-Defensive MVP, ultimately earning him a full scholarship to Texas A&M University in College Station. Now returning to the place where it all started, he considers himself blessed to be able to give back to the program that has facilitated his winning ways and attitude. Gig ‘Em Owls, We Will Win!! |
Jeff Caddell Defensive Backs Coach Caddell is entering his third year as a coach at Garland High School. His first year with the Owls, he coached freshman receivers and linebackers. He is excited to return to the G and continue to work with student athletes, helping them become the best versions of themselves. |
Freshman
Danny Davis Freshman HeadCoach/DC Linebackers Running Backs Danny Davis begins his 21st year coaching and his 15th at GHS. In addition to his duties as the Head Freshman football coach, he is the Varsity 1st assistant in baseball. His previous coaching stops include Kopperl High School, Bussey Middle School, and Community High School. He is a graduate of Richardson High School and Texas A&M University with a degree in Physics. He and his wife Cortney are raising a son, Rhyne, and a daughter, Fiona. Cameron Cromer RECEIVERS Defensive Backs Coach Cromer comes from Sachse where he graduated from Sachse High School. There he lettered in both football and baseball. After High School, he went on to Abilene Christian University where he played baseball for 2 years before transferring to Southeastern Oklahoma State University finishing his baseball career and earning his bachelor’s degree. Coach Cromer is coming up on his first year of coaching. Cromer is very excited to get back into football and help kids grow on and off the field. |
Nate Heckelman Freshman OC Quarterbacks Defensive Backs Coach Heckelman is entering his third year at Garland High School. He graduated from Bluffton University in Ohio with a bachelor's degree in Math Education. Coach Heckelman also played basketball while attending Bluffton. He previously taught and coached while living in Ohio. |
Victor Picon Offensive Line Defensive Line This is Coach Picon’s tenth year at GHS. He is a graduate of McMurry University (class of 2001) were he played offensive guard and received 1st Team All-Conference honors. Coach Picon coached at Galena Park Middle School for 9 years and at Bryan HS for 4 years. He is married to Maria D. Rojas (Garland HS class of 97) and has 6 children: Camila (2),Carolina (7) Rebecca (8), Rosalie (15), Victor (19), and Victoria (23) a Garland High graduate. |
Trainers
Bill Brooks Trainer Coach Brooks is entering his 16th year in GISD. This is his sixth year at GHS after having worked 10 years at Naaman Forest. He is a veteran athletic trainer and has worked with two NFL teams during his career, the Atlanta Falcons and the Cincinnati Bengals. Coach Brooks attended Garland High School. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southwestern Louisiana and a master's from Georgia State University. He is married to Donise and they have a son, Hamilton, who played on the 2006 Semi-final team |
David Baker Trainer Coach Baker is beginning his 46th year in GISD. Coach Baker is a graduate of Austin College with grad work including SMU, DBU, USOC, NASM, and TAMU-Commerce. He received a Master of Education from TAMU/C and has 49 years of experience in athletic training, including work @ SMU, GHS, Lakeview Centennial, Rowlett HS, and North Garland HS. Mike is married to Becky Cowan-Baker, they have two children Christopher and Jennifer, and a granddaughter Sofee Jo. |