Coaches of the Month Spotlights
Each month, the Eagle Mountain Saginaw ISD Athletic Department will recognize a coach for his/her accomplishments in the classroom, on the field, and in the community. The recipient will receive a coupon for a free pizza courtesy of MOD Pizza. "Our coaches work hard on the field and in the classroom with our students and student-athletes," Athletic Director Brent Barker said. "We wanted to recognize them for their hard work and dedication to EMS ISD Athletics and thank you to MOD Pizza for sponsoring this."
April/May 2025
Rounding out the year, Head Girls Soccer and Assistant
Cross Country Coach Matthew Speight is the April/May Coach of the Month. “I’m
honored,” he expressed when asked about receiving the award. “We have a lot of
great coaches here on campus, and the fact that someone would think I’m
deserving makes me feel very honored.” Coach Speight has already started off
the newly formed Lady Knights team strong, bringing with him a decade’s worth
of coaching experience into Eagle Mountain athletic program. “It was a great
first year,” he stated. “We had a very young team going in to compete in this
district. We just barely missed the playoffs in the last night of the season,
but with one junior, everyone is going to be coming back, so we are really excited
for next season.” The growth, he admitted, is what he is looking forward to the
most going into the following year. Most of the girls on the team were new to varsity
soccer, with only two who had played at that level before joining up with he
Knights, but with all 19 girls now in possession of the necessary knowledge and
experience, Coach Speight is confident that the Lady Knights will be force to
be reckoned with.”
“Coach Speight is a great addition to the Eagle
Mountain team,” commented Campus Coordinator Jeremy Mullins. “The time and
effort he has put in has been invaluable to getting the Knights off the ground
in their first year.”
March 2025
Head Boys
Track and Field, Football Defensive Coordinator, and Assistant Powerlifting
Coach Weston Bond is the March spotlight for Coach of the Month! “It’s an honor,”
he admitted when asked about his feelings on receiving the award. “It’s
something I didn’t expect. I really appreciate the nomination, and it’s a huge
credit to the kids I get to coach every day.” Joining the Knight team for its
inaugural season, Coach Bond is helping to set the standard. Track has had a
fantastic first season as several individuals have the opportunity to advance
to the regional meet in a first year, first time achievement for EMHS. “We have
three relays with the opportunity to make it to regionals if we can keep doing
what we are doing and improving steadily. There are a couple of other guys in individual
events who are in that same boat, and a JV group that is having a tremendous
amount of success that has the chance to win the district track meet this week,
so we’re excited about how it is going.” It is because of this consistency in
performance that Coach Bond is confident about the results of the rest of the season.
“I’m looking forward to having a good district meet this week, then seeing the
relay guys in post season after that, so getting to see those guys go and
achieve and go as far as they can go will be a great to see.”
“Coach Bond is a great team player,” commented Campus Coordinator Jeremy Mullins. “He is always willing to do what is best for the kids and all of the programs at EMHS!”
February 2025
Head Softball
and Assistant Volleyball Coach Erinn Jayjohn is the recipient for the February
Coach of the Month! “I’m incredibly honored,” she expressed when asked about
receiving the award. “Coaching is a profession you don’t really get recognized
a lot in, so it’s nice to be honored by your peers and especially by people
above you.” Coach Jayjohn is entering her 11th year as a teacher and
12th year as a coach in her first season with the EMHS Knights,
starting her head coaching career in 2015 at her alma mater, Northwest High
School. It was with the Pirates that she was named the District 9-5A Coach of
the Year after leading them to their fist playoff appearance in 7 years in
2017. On top of this, she is also a lifelong softball player, earning her way
on the Northwest and University of Mississippi teams where she was named
District MVP and Pitcher of the Year for the former and voted unanimous team
captain in both groups. “I’m really excited about this season,” she explained. “We’re
getting some recognition, the kids are working incredibly hard, and we’ve faced
some adversity over the past couple of weeks, but they’ve really stepped up.
They’re doing everything we ask of them, and I think we’re going to win a lot
of success because of it.” Coach Jayjohn has played competitive softball for
over 20 years. It is because of this that she has a great passion for the sport
and has driven her to help future leaders emerge among both players and coaches
alike, being one of the many reasons she is so excited o now be with the
Knights as a fresh program. “I look forward to helping Eagle Mountain make an
impact in softball, in the 4A level, and beyond, and I’m excited for us to make
a statement to some people that we’re here to compete and to win.”
“Coach Jayjohn
is off to a strong start in district play with a 1-0 district record,” Campus
Coordinator Jeremy Mullins commented. “Beyond coaching, she’s always willing to
step up-whether it ‘s announcing at basketball games or leading our Girls’
Night Out events. Her dedication to EMHS doesn’t go unnoticed.”
January 2025
Offensive
Coordinator, Head Powerlifting, and Assistant Track Coach Will Kates is January’s
Coach of the Month! “It’s an awesome feeling, but I think it’s a testament to
the kids, really,” he stated when asked about receiving the award. “For me, it’s
what they do. They show up every day, working hard, and we just kind of put
them in motion, but I’m humbled. It’s really cool.” Like all of his fellow
coaching staff, this year marks Coach Kates’s first season with the Knights, an
opportunity that he is really excited to pursue as he helps build up the
fledgling programs. “We’re feeling good about the upcoming season with track
and getting them out there. Our first meet is on the 20th, and we’ll
be wrapping up powerlifting around that time, hopefully with some regionals and
state qualifiers. I’m ready to get them out there, see what they can do, and
throw that dinner plate around,” he joked. Coach Kates says he looks forward to
seeing all the improvements that can be made week by week and establishing the
culture of the program. “These kids are coming from all around the district,
you know, and we’re really trying to give Eagle Mountain its own identity. I
think we do that by going to track meets, representing ourselves well, and
competing as hard as we can, seeing improvement each day and putting Eagle Mountain
on the map.”
“Coach
Kates has played a pivotal role in establishing and growing the powerlifting
program, demonstrating exceptional leadership and dedication,” said Campus
Coordinator Jeremy Mullins. “Coach Kates is a true team player who takes great
pride in all aspects of his work, consistently making a positive impact on our
athletes and programs.”
December 2024
Head Wrestling
and Assistant Football Coach Zach Redden is the December spotlight for Coach of
the Month! “It’s an awesome feeling,” he admitted when asked about receiving the
award. “I’m happy to be here, happy to be recognized, and this is all because
of the kids.” As an EMS-ISD graduate, Coach Redden has sunk a majority of his
time and career into the city of Saginaw. He spent a brief stent at Brewer
Middle School before returning to his alma mater, serving in multiple roles on
the Rough Rider football team and head wrestling coach, a title he continued to
hold moving to Eagle Mountain High School. “[The season so far] is going good,”
he explained. “We have 43, 44 kids, so we’re building the program up. We have a
lot of JV kids and a three of four that have come in with varsity experience,
all of whom are doing great. JV has been winning consistently and we have a ton
of kids that are in multiple sports, so it really shows their work ethic.” His experience
as the head coach with Saginaw High School shows just what talent he is
bringing to the Knights’ family, creating an immense culture with successes
that include six district championships, 21 regional placers, a state champion and
is closing in on 100 dual victories. Coach Redden expects that the climb to
building the team at EMHS will take time, but he is confident in fostering a similar
culture to the one he has forged before with the help of the student athletes. “Like
I said, we’re trying to build the program from the ground up, so I’m really
excited to see all the kids compete and watch them grow in their confidence and
skills.”
“Coach Redden has been an outstanding asset to our coaching staff this fall,” commented Campus Coordinator Jeremy Mullins. “He did an excellent job with our receivers this fall. Coach Redden consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic and takes great pride in everything he does, ensuring that every detail is handled with care and commitment. Additionally, Coach Redden is playing a crucial role in the development of our wrestling program, where his efforts are laying a strong foundation for success in the future. His passion for the sport and his ability to connect with and inspire the kids has been invaluable. We are excited to see the continued impact he will have on both programs.”
November 2024
Head Boys
Basketball and Assistant Track Coach Scott Richardson is the recipient for the
November Coach of the Month! “It means a lot,” he admitted when asked about his
feeling of being awarded the title. “You work really hard, and so for people to
notice the hard work you put in by the team is really… It really means a lot to
me.” Coach Richardson started his career with EMS-ISD this year as Eagle
Mountain High School’s first ever Head Boys Basketball coach, but this does not
mark his first time being in the position overall. Before dawning the Knight
armor, Coach Richardson was the Head Basketball coach at Tolar High School
guiding the team to a record-breaking season with an impressive 30 wins that
culminated in the school’s first ever Regional Finals appearance. He brings
with him a wealth of experience and success, evident by the 400 wins under his
belt and an acclaimed article for Texas Coach that earned the 2023 Article of
the Year award. Now, with the season officially in full swing and all of the
athletes ready to take to the court, Coach Richardson is ready to bring home
some big wins for the Knights. “We’ve got some great kids,” he said. “It’s
going to be a lot of fun coaching this group of guys and watching them come
together and take on their own identity.” Football playoffs cut into the roster
ever so slightly for the team, but that has not slowed them down. As of writing,
the Knights have played two games and won both. With the athletes now coming
off the field and onto the court, there is a strong sentiment that this will only
further strength and already cohesive group. “I’m looking forward to seeing the
relationships between the kids grow,” he stated. “Being on the bus rides and having
team dinners and stuff like that is really going to help them come together as
a group and I can’t wait to see that happen.”
“Coach
Richardson is truly a standout figure, both as a coach and as a colleague,”
commented Campus Coordinator Jeremy Mullins. “His blend of kindness and
dedication to helping his athletes exceed is a rare quality. Supporting not
only his team but the entire sports community shows his true leadership.
Wishing Coach Richardson and the Knights all the best for the season ahead!”
October 2024
Head Girls Track and Assistant Swim Coach Miles is the
spotlight for the October Coach of the Month! “I’m excited,” he admitted when
asked about being named Coach of the Month. “It’s a mix of gratitude and
appreciation, especially for my peers.” Coach Miles is a 17-year veteran of
education, 15 of which include coaching experience. He has held positions in
GCISD, Northwest ISD, and Hillsboro ISD before armoring up with the Eagle
Mountain Knights, where he acted as a coach for several sports including track,
football, soccer, and basketball. “Swimming, so far, is going really well. I’m
optimistic and looking forward to track, too. I think there’s an opportunity to
build something really special in both sports. Being a new school, you get to
go in and put your fingerprints on it.” In his time with other districts, he
has coached several district champions, regional qualifiers, and a state
champion. Though, he admits, the teams are small due to it being the school’s
inaugural year, he sees a lot of talent in the individuals that make them up
and he has high hopes for what they can accomplish. “I’m looking forward to
setting the foundation and the standard for the years that follow us. We want
to teach the kids how to compete and how to be proud to be a knight. When you
wear the logo, you should be proud because it represents something special.”
“Coach Miles consistently goes above and beyond to support both his fellow coaches and student-athletes,” commented Assistant Coordinator Catherine Foerster. “His enthusiasm for work is infectious, and it’s evident in the positive energy he brings to our teams. He takes the time to connect with each coach and athlete, fostering a welcoming and encouraging environment. Coach Miles is not only dedicated to athletics but also brings a creative flair to our events with his fantastic dress-up themes and photography skills, which we all cherish.”
September 2024
Head Baseball Coach and Assistant Football Coach Bobby
Crook is September’s, and the first ever for Eagle Mountain High School, Coach
of the Month. “It’s a great honor,” he admitted upon receiving the award. “It’s
a testament that the kids are working hard.” While being the inaugural Head
Baseball Coach, Crook is no stranger to America’s favorite pastime. On top of
being a 3-year letterman from Marcus High School in Flower Mound and playing
collegiately at the University of Dallas, he also has 20 years of professional
experience with the one and only Texas Rangers. “I’m feeling good [about the
upcoming season],” Crook expressed. “I love being on the ground floor and being
able to work with such a great group of kids.” Coach Crook joined the Rangers
in 2004 and wore a myriad of hats during his time with them, including Area
Scout, Special Assignment Crosschecker, and various front office position that
kept the team moving. His experience as a scout is complimented by his time as
a manager with the Texas Rangers Area Code Team, the Texas Rangers Scout Team,
the Texas Scouts Association North All-Star team, and as a coach with the
Cooperstown Cobras organization and USA Baseball prospect camps. “I’m really
looking forward to getting these guys on the field,” he said, gesturing to a
group he was coaching before commenting. “Obviously in football, we’re seeing
it. They’re able to play, show themselves, get after it, and have fun. That’s
what I can’t wait to see; for these baseball guys to represent the school the
right way and enjoy doing it. It should be a blast.”
“Coach Crook is a dedicated team player,” commented
Campus Coordinator Jeremy Mullins, “who is instrumental in launching our
baseball program while also playing a key role in our football operations. His
commitment and versatility make him an invaluable asset to our athletic
department!”
