Putting a high value on the place where they were raised and graduated from high school, more than 20 percent of the 242 middle and high school coaches in Spring Branch ISD have come back to the district to teach and coach. 

As Spring Branch ISD celebrates its 75th anniversary this school year, it is worth noting that alumni coaches’ years of experience span several decades. The longest-serving coach has worked in the district for 44 years and the most recent alum hired as a coach graduated in 2016. 

When asked who or what inspired them to work and coach in Spring Branch ISD, many named specific coaches and teachers who had positive influences, as well as the desire to be part of a team that cares about Every Child. Many of our coaches who grew up in the area have parents who were district employees or graduated from a Spring Branch ISD high school as well, so their roots in this “small town in a big city” are deep.

Here are comments from a some of the 51 coaches (see full list below) who are alumni of Spring Branch ISD:
 

Blake Lassiter 
Graduated from Westchester Academy in 2007, currently coaches football at Spring Forest Middle School (SFMS) and teaches at Stratford High School. His mother, Cathy Lassiter, also works at SFMS.

Memorable Moment: “When I became president of the chess club by defeating the sitting president in a winner-take-all game of chess, so that I could secretly start a football club (Westchester didn't have a football team so I couldn't play football through normal means).”

 

Kaitlyn Whitten 
Graduated from Spring Woods High School (SWHS) in 2011, currently coaches volleyball at her alma mater

What inspired you to come back to work and coach in Spring Branch ISD? “Since I am a second-generation graduate from SWHS [both of her parents are also SWHS alumni], being a Tiger has always been a part of my life. From an early age, I knew my goal was to teach at SWHS and eventually coach soccer and volleyball.”

 

Lindley Amarantos 
Graduated from Memorial High School in 1999, currently coaches girls’ soccer at Memorial High

Who inspired you to come back to work and coach in Spring Branch ISD? “Beth Gammill [former Memorial varsity volleyball coach] ran into my dad my senior year of college. As soon as she heard I wanted to coach and teach when I graduated, she got my information and reached out. I got my application in by spring break, had an interview in early April and a job before graduation. I had never really thought about coming back to the school I graduated from, but it was the best decision I ever made.” 

 

Sonny Perez 
Graduated from Northbrook High School (NHS), currently coaches basketball at Northbrook Middle School

Who inspired you to come back to work and coach in Spring Branch ISD? “A lot of the teachers really helped me reach my goals. Teachers at NHS went above and beyond whenever it was time for me to go college. A laptop was donated to me and other things that really helped me bridge my way into college.”

 

Marianne Landon 
Graduated from Stratford High School in 2010 and currently works there as the Head Athletic Trainer

Memorable Moment: “In late middle school/early high school, my mother was extremely sick and near death. Two of my coaches were attentive, encouraging, and a safe place for me through that season of life. I am still friends with both of these coaches to this day.”

Thank you to these alumni coaches for your service to Every Child and for your loyalty to Spring Branch ISD: 
 

Matt Ache
Graduated from Stratford High School (SHS) in 2001
Coaches Football and Basketball at SHS

Lindley Amarantos
Graduated from Memorial High School (MHS) in 1999
Coaches Soccer at MHS

Lauren Amedee
Graduated from MHS in 2003
Coaches Volleyball at Memorial Middle School (MMS)

Cecilia Argueta
Graduated from Northbrook High School (NHS) in 2010
Coaches Volleyball and Cross Country at Landrum Middle School (LMS)

Bronson Beauchamp
Graduated from Spring Woods High School (SWHS) in 2001
Coaches Basketball at SWHS

Nick Butler
Graduated from SHS in 2014
Coaches Tennis at SHS

Ivan Campos
Graduated from SWHS in 1989
Coaches Soccer at MHS

Craig Cripps
Graduated form SHS
Coaches Football at MHS

Keith Cripps
Graduated from SHS in 1987
Campus Athletic Director and coaches Football at MHS

Khedrick Dixon
Graduated from SWHS in 2004
Coaches Football and Basketball at SHS

Larry Dues
Graduated from SHS in 2002
Coaches Football and Basketball at Spring Branch Middle School (SBMS)

Ruben Espinoza
Graduated from NHS in 2010
Coaches Soccer at NHS

Jim Garrett
Graduated from SHS in 1988
Coaches Football and Soccer at Spring Forest Middle School (SFMS)

Joe Gibson
Graduated from SWHS in 1996
Coaches Basketball at SWHS

Hope Grochmall
Graduated from MHS in 1999
Campus Athletic Coordinator and coaches Football, Basketball and Track at Northbrook Middle School (NBMS)

Jason Hall
Graduated from NHS in 1999
Coaches Football and Basketball at SWHS

Kelly Harkins
Graduated from SWHS in 2001
Coaches Volleyball and Basketball at SFMS

Ryan Harvey
Graduated from SHS in 2003
Coaches Football, Basketball, Track and Cross Country at SFMS

Amanda Houston
Graduated from SWHS in 2008
Coaches Volleyball, Cross Country and Track & Field at LMS

James Howard
Graduated from NHS in 2012
Coaches Football, Basketball and Track at SFMS

Brian Jackson
Graduated from SHS in 2009
Coaches Football at Spring Woods Middle School

Gary Koch
Graduated from Westchester High School
Coaches Football at MHS

George Kutac
Graduated from MHS in 2016
Coaches Diving at the Natatorium

Marianne Landon
Graduated from SHS in 2010
Head Athletic Trainer at SHS

Blake Lassiter
Graduated from Westchester Academy for International Studies in 2007
Coaches Football at SFMS

Keagan Lawrence
Graduated from SHS in 2016
Coaches Football at NHS

Priscilla Loera
Graduated from NHS in 2005
Campus Athletic Coordinator and coaches Volleyball, Basketball and Track at LMS

Caitlin Luper
Graduated from SWHS in 2012
Coaches Tennis at NHS

Brian Mandell
Graduated from MHS in 2006
Coaches Tennis at MHS

Alfonso Mendoza
Graduated from NHS in 2009
Coaches Soccer at LMS

Vanessa Miranda
Graduated from NHS in 2014
Coaches Volleyball at Spring Oaks Middle School

Stephanie Mosley
Graduated from SHS in 2003
Coaches Basketball and Softball at MHS

William Pearce
Graduated from SWHS in 2002
Coaches Football and Baseball at SWHS

Angela Perez
Graduated from NHS in 2013
Athletic Trainer at SHS

Sonny Perez
Graduated from NHS in 2016
Coaches Basketball at NBMS

Sarah Pollicove-Yaya
Graduated from SWHS in 2002
Coaches Soccer at SWHS

Daniella Pugel
Graduated from MHS in 2011
Coaches Cross Country at MMS

Jose Razo
Graduated from SWHS in 2008
Coaches Football, Cross Country and Track & Field at SWHS

Charles Reed
Graduated from MHS in 2005
Coaches Football at SWHS

Richard Ruez
Graduated from Westchester High School in 1980
Coaches Cross Country and Track & Field at MHS

Veronica Santos
Graduated from SWHS in 2013
Coaches Volleyball at SWHS

Cody Schwartz
Graduated from SHS in 2007
Coaches Baseball at SHS

Shelby Shelton
Graduated from MHS in 2012
Coaches Volleyball at MMS

Steven Turner
Graduated from NHS in 2000
Coaches Football and Basketball at SBMS

Chris Vaughn
Graduated from SHS in 2007
Assistant Campus Athletic Coordinator and coaches Football and Track at MMS

Carlos Vega
Graduated from SWHS in 2015
Coaches Football and Softball at SWHS

Erin Wagoner
Graduated from SHS in 2008
Coaches Volleyball, Track and Soccer at MMS

Kaitlyn Whitten-McNeil
Graduated from SWHS in 2011
Coaches Volleyball at SWHS

Russell Wichmann
Graduated from SHS in 1983
Coaches Cross Country and Track at MHS

Julie Wilhelm
Graduated from MHS in 2011
Coaches Volleyball at MMS

Eva Zapata
Graduated from SWHS in 2013
Coaches Volleyball at LMS