2024-25 Board Nominees

I am nominating Thad Goodling due to his innovative way of thinking and his ability to help us grow our association. Thad has served for TASCO in years past and has moved to a new region. He has served in three different geographical areas in Texas and has a good mindset for the position. He is a good team member and will show up for us all. Thad has great core values and will bring to TASCO energy and integrity.

I am honored to be nominated by my peers for the TASCO VP position. My goal is to be an innovative thinker with the experience, tools and motivation to help lead TASCO’s continued growth and service to coaches throughout the state. One of TASCO’s greatest assets and biggest hurdles is our state’s enormous geography. I have coached in the Panhandle at Dumas for five years, and I spent the last seven years in the DFW Metroplex, leading the Joshua boys. I added TASCO Region 1 Director responsibilities along the way, where I was able to help bring in new clinicians. This summer I moved with my wife and children to Brazoswood High School and Region 3 to experience the Gulf Coast and further my coaching journey. Along with my 13 years as a high school boys head coach, I spent three seasons leading the varsity girls at Dumas.  In addition I have worked as both a youth and high school referee, which should really help me spearhead TASCO’s implementation of the UIL Texas Way program if I’m fortunate enough to be elected. Finally, I also have  experience as both a club coach and director.

I sincerely hope I have the opportunity to help the coaches in our great state continue to learn and grow in our challenging and rewarding profession. I truly appreciate the nomination, confidence and support of my fellow coaches. 

I am currently the Head Coach of the boys team at the NEW Wichita Falls Legacy High School. I was the Wichita Falls Rider boys coach for 7 years and before that I was the girls head coach and district soccer coordinator at Texas High in Texarkana. I am in my 18th year of coaching high school soccer and have always been a member and fan of TASCO. I have always wanted to volunteer and help, and I have decided it is time to take that leap and see what happens. I played at WF Rider 99-02 under TASCO Hall of Honor Coach Kenny Catney, moved onto Hardin Simmons and finished as a GA on the women's side at Midwestern State. I have enjoyed competing and getting to know so many of you throughout the years and hopefully I can start to serve this organization.

I am currently entering my 8th year as the head girls soccer coach at Guyer High School and my 14th overall as a head coach. My teams have made the playoffs 13 of 14 years and I have seen countless successes both on and off the field for my players. I am a big believer in high school sports and the unique opportunity it offers players to play with their friends for their community. My high school soccer experience is one that I hold fondly and I aim to create a positive and memorable experience for our student-athletes. I have coached ODP and at the club level and have great respect for all avenues of the game, but my passion will always be in the high school game and the experience it provides. My hope is that this organization continues to grow and advocate for Texas High School soccer. I have been a member my entire career and found great value in the collaboration of coaches here and the avenue this provides us to have our voices heard and our programs represented.

I am starting my 20th year in education and my 10th year coaching high school boys’ soccer. My coaching philosophy has always been to focus on creating intelligent, strong, young men, that have the tools to be successful in society while using the greatest classroom on earth, the soccer field. I have used the El Dorado Boys Soccer Program to give back to my community from day one. We give annually to our local Salvation Army during Christmas, helped with our community clean ups and we are the only High School Soccer Program that is a part of the Pink Socks Organization (a worldwide organization that focuses on spreading kindness and love). It is now time for me to focus and give back to the soccer community in Region I and statewide. I hope to use my experience and knowledge to inspire others and make an impact at all levels. Through coaching, I have been able to make strong relationships with my players and other coaches and I would like to use this opportunity to be the advocate for the Texas High School Soccer Community and grow this sport to allow many more opportunities to players and coaches.

Francisco Medrano Middle School Dallas ISD Girls Soccer Head Coach 2012/2013

Celina Middle School Girls Soccer Head Coach 2013/2015

Braswell High School Girls 1st Assistant Girls Soccer 2021

Braswell High School Boys 1st Assistant Girls Soccer 2022

Frisco Panther Creek High School Boys Soccer Assistant 2022 to present

TASCO Jay Rodriguez Scholarship receiver 2023

Education

M.Ed. Educational Technology and Leadership Administration, Lamar University

Beaumont, TX April 2020.

Teacher Certificate valid July. 2025

LOTE Spanish (EC-12), TX

Bachelor of Laws (Degree of Juris Doctor) 1999-2004

Universidad Santa Maria

Barcelona, Anzoategui, Venezuela.

“ Specialization of Criminal Law Criminological Science”

University Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho, Venezuela 2007-200

Barça Universitas Soccer Coach Certification December 2022

USSA Soccer Coach D License February 2023

T.O.V.O institute V1 coaching course. July 2023

I started out playing soccer as a kid in rec, eventually made it to a small club called the Eagles out of Denton for 2 seasons, played intramural at UNT and men's league and coed soccer for fun in my adult life. I have over a decade of coaching experience, have a few coaching licenses, and also had a small stint for the club BVB. My team has won state the last 3 years in the girls 4A classification, I have been blessed to have won a variety of coaching awards over the last 3 years in this state run we've made and I also am very passionate about the sport in general. Anything I can do to help grow this sport and make it the best experience the kids can have while in high school throughout our state I am all for and would love to be a part of this organization's goals that tries to do exactly that. TASCO has the most influence over UIL in our sport and I feel I could one day help be part of the collective of voices that helps our sport be the best it can be. I also love how TASCO is the support system for all high school soccer coaches throughout our state and I believe in their commitment to supporting our craft, I'd love to be a part of that as well.

My name is Alexi Upton. This is my third year running for a position. I am passionate about soccer and Texas. I want to be the fresh face of the next generation of Texas Soccer Coaches. I love my community and promoting the game. I want to represent everyone big and small. Commitment and Energy is what I will give to every component of the TASCO community, especially to all of you, my fellow coaches, to be the best representative I can be. It is your ideas and concerns that help in moving us forward. I’m not going to go into stating empty promises, but rather continuing greatness and fixing issues we believe need to be addressed. I feel that other candidates, along with myself, believe that we have the desire, motivation and drive to serve the all of Texas, though I will push more and work more. We are willing to put our all into our positions and each task that is put in front of us. Cant wait to start, Alexi Upton

 My name is Luke Strong, I am currently in my 7th year in education & 7th year as a Head Soccer Coach. This year will be my second year at Caddo Mills. I started my career at Sabine High School, where we made the playoffs in the school's first UIL year. After Sabine, I had the opportunity to take over at Randall High School (Region 1). Randall was important to me because it was the high school where I graduated & my dad had been the Head Soccer Coach for many years. While at Randall we clinched a playoff berth in 3 out of 4 years & won the school's first playoff game in 6+ years.

 Lastly, Caddo Mills allowed my wife, an athletic trainer, & myself to work side by side. This will be our second year at Caddo & we are looking forward to making strides to grow the program in year two. The reason I coach & the reason I would love the opportunity to be on the TASCO board is ultimately to grow the game of soccer. This game has played a major role in my life & I want to give back to the game & allow others to be impacted as I have been by this game.

I've been a member of TASCO for 30 years. I've made many life long friends through TASCO. It's been an honor to lecture at the TASCO convention & demo a few field sessions over the years. I've served on the UIL Soccer Advisory Committee for several years. My coaching career started in 1994 at Corsicana HS where I coached for 7 years making the playoffs in all seven. In 1999, my team reached the Regional Finals. My next stop was at Coppell HS, where we reached the Regional Quarters 7 years in a row. The regional tournament 6 times and the State tournament 5 times. In 2004 my Coppell team went undefeated to win the State Championship. I've spent the last 16 years at Klein HS where we've been able to make the playoffs 11 seasons. I've been a Regional Coach of the Year, a State coach of the year, a SW Regional Coach of the year, and runner up for National Coach of the year. I would love the opportunity to serve as Region 2 2nd Asst and give back to the association that has given me so much.

Thank You,

John M Lawhon

As someone who fell in love with the game of soccer at a very young age, this beautiful game is something that I cherish. In particular, Texas High School soccer is one of the greatest sources of joy for me, and I could not imagine my life without the incredible experiences, emotions, and relationships that come with being a soccer coach in the state of Texas. I played soccer throughout my youth and in high school in Borger, TX, and as I went to West Texas A&M University to prepare for adulthood, coaching soccer was the only thing that made sense to me.

I began my coaching journey in Region I as an assistant coach at Borger High School. This was very much a "trial-by-fire" experience for me, as various coaching changes mid-year left one head coach and myself to run both the boys and girls programs at the school. Together, we were able to guide both teams into the second round of the playoffs. After Borger, I served as the assistant coach for the girls program at Palo Duro High School in Amarillo. In my only year there, the head coach of the program went on maternity leave for half of the season, during which time I served as the acting head coach, winning eight of the ten games played under my watch. At the end of the year, I was offered the opportunity to be the Head Coach of the boys program at Canyon High School, a struggling program at a 4A school. My assistant and I put in countless hours of work to grow and and develop that program, and he is still the head coach of the much-improved program today.

After leaving Canyon High School, I was offered a position as the first assistant at Kingwood Park High School, which brought me to the greater Houston area. At the time, Kingwood Park was in Region II, battling in a tough district. Up to this point in my career, I was a dual-sport coach who was also obligated to coach football. At Kingwood Park, I was offered the opportunity to be a single-sport coach, which allowed me to devote more of my time and energy to the soccer program. We were highly successful as a program, as we guided an inaugural JV-B side to a winning season along with the Varsity and JV-A.

I went through a brief period where I thought that I needed to leave public education, as I believe many coaches and teachers experience. I was offered an administrative position at Penn State University (yes, that Penn State), where I served as the Director of Residence Life for the Altoona Campus. I quickly realized that the world of Texas High School Soccer was the one for me, and I was able to secure a position with Splendora High School as the Head Coach for the Girls Soccer Program after just one year away. I am looking forward to building something special at Splendora as we move into 5A Region III soccer.

As I plan for the future, my family and I are extremely happy with where we are. The Houston area is our home, and we do not plan to go anywhere else anytime soon. Region III is very much in my future, and I would love the opportunity to represent the wonderful coaches, programs, and players that make this region competitive, friendly, and supportive.

My name is Brian Lopez and I am the current Head boys soccer coach at Navasota. I am going into my third year as a head coach and coaching career overall. I graduated from Sam Houston State University back on 2022 and right after college I accepted the postition at Navasota High school. Since taking the job in 2022 we have been able to bring new ideas and a system developing not just a team but a program that has allowed us to accomplish succes and victories and a trip to the state tournament for the first time in program history and potentially looking to grow more over the years.

I fall in love with the sport since I was 8 years and played in clubs in Colombia where I was raised, and also played high school and college soccer here in the United States. I had to stop playing the sport due to injuries but decided to continue with the love with the sport coaching young men in the sport and most importantly about life.

I would like to extend my ideas and support in soccer by running for a board postion where I can be of any help to support other coaches and players and as well learning from other coaches who have been in this career longer than me.

Over the past 17 years as both a high school Head Girls Soccer Coach and TASCO member, I have been fortunate enough to experience competing in several different UIL classifications (4A, 5A, 6A) Regions 1 and 2. Now a member of Region 3, I am about to cycle through those classifications again while opening Katy ISD’s newest high school, Freeman. The combination of experience within most of the regions and classifications, allows me to share a unique perspective when it comes to understanding regional challenges, improvements or implementing new ideas to maximize the benefits of membership in this association or on the pitch. 

Due to that extensive personal coaching experience across classifications and a devoted passion for soccer, I believe my perspective makes for an invaluable asset to our Region 3 community. Anyone who knows me, knows I am dedicated to advancing the coaching profession for all and enhancing the experience for all players throughout the state. Regardless of our diverse backgrounds or skill levels as coaches, we all have a shared responsibility to continue inspiring a love for the game and a strong sense of community within respective programs. 

It is my intent to share my experience and vision to support coaches and athletes across all levels, championing initiatives that promote inclusivity, safety, and excellence in high school soccer as a Regional 2nd Assistant. I would love the opportunity to serve our association and greater coaching community. 

Hello everyone! My name is Haiden Lane and I am the Head Boys Soccer Coach at West Fork HS in New Caney ISD. This is my 3rd year as a head coach at West Fork and my 6th years coaching overall. A few years ago I had the privilege to be the first ever soccer coach at West Fork and help open the school back in the Fall of 2022. So far as a program, from just Freshman two years ago to this year having 9th-11th grade, we as a program have made tremendous strides and have started to make a name for ourselves around the Houston area. Prior to West Fork I spent a couple of years coaching at Katy Taylor HS as the Boys Assistant Soccer Coach.

Soccer has been apart of my life since I could remember. I grew up in a soccer playing household with a father who loves the game and still coaches to this day. I played club soccer for the Texans Soccer Club and played my high school soccer at Brenham HS.
My coaching philosophy is simply put and that is, 'person over the player'. As a coach, I want what is best for each player as a person. I truly believe that if you cannot be a coach with proper man management, then coaching is going to be overly difficult and it will be very hard to succeed.

My goal is to be able to spread further knowledge to coaches around the state in order to enhance the player experience. I feel like one thing that is truly lacking in some places in around the state is the knowledge/understanding of the game. If we as an organization are able to reach as many coaches as possible, that is what truly matter because that knowledge will allow the athletes to succeed on and off the field. As someone who has been involved in the game for years and has a large familiarity with TASCO and how it works, I feel that I could bring a spark of ideas to help out not just the region that I am apart of but the organization as a whole.

TASCO Members,

I’m running to become Region III’s 2nd Assistant. This is my 21st year of coaching high school soccer in the state of Texas and I’ve been a member of TASCO since 2005. I'm starting my 19th year as head boys soccer coach. I started my career at Laredo Martin where I coached for 6 years. My second stop was at Mayde Creek for 7 years, and for the past 8 years I’ve been at Fulshear High School. Competing in Katy ISD for seven years taught me valuable lessons in how to build and develop a program. Additionally, I feel that I learned a lot from going up against great coaches every single game. At Fulshear, we have made the regional tournament at both the 4A and 5A classifications in 2019 and 2023 respectively. I’m a big believer in development and having a growth mindset. I’ve had numerous athletes play at the collegiate level, and 4 of my assistant coaches have gone on to become high school head coaches.

As many of our careers, mine has had ups and downs, filled with obstacles that hinder the development of our athletes. Fortunately, I’ve learned that TASCO provides coaches from all experience levels with a support system we can depend on. From one of my first conventions, where I listened to Eric Lane present his 3-5-2 system in San Antonio (then implementing it successfully) I quickly learned that our profession requires us to be constantly adapting and seeking knowledge to improve our craft.

Learning from and sharing ideas with our peers is invaluable. I believe in the vision of the organization, and feel that my experiences have prepared me to become 2nd Assistant for Region III and support fellow TASCO members in continuing to grow Texas High School Soccer.

Thank you,

Art Trevino

My name is Eric Nichols and I am starting my 27th year coaching soccer. I have coached both boys and girls throughout my career and I am currently starting my 3rd year the girl's head coach at Wimberley HS. During my career, I have seen many changes happen to our game. From 35 yard shootouts to PK's, adding more classifications to soccer and expanding the playoffs. It have been great seeing our sport grow and expand. My wife and I have been married for 26 years and have a daughter who is 24 and a son who is 16. Without them, I could not have coached all these years. I have spent many years being a member of the TASCO organization and have loved seeing our organization be at the forefront of our sport and making sure soccer is fairly represented in UIL. I would love to have the opportunity to represent our Region, our coaches and players in TASCO. Thank you for your consideration

With a passion for soccer coaching, teaching, and a proven track record in establishing and leading youth soccer initiatives, Throughout my career, I have accumulated extensive experience in soccer coaching and education. As a Head Coach of gonzales men's program I have successfully designed and implemented comprehensive training programs that cater to diverse age groups and skill levels. My approach emphasizes not only technical skills but also personal development and teamwork, fostering a positive and supportive learning environment.

In addition to coaching, I have played a pivotal role in founding and managing Gonzales United FC and SC, where I oversee all aspects of operations, including program development, budgeting, and community outreach. Under my leadership, the organization grew exponentially, attracting participants from across the region and earning a reputation for excellence in youth sports.

Highlights of my Accomplishments

- UEFA C through Wales FA continuing to UEFA B this summer as i reach my goal of a UEFA Youth A License

- Successfully launched Gonzales United FC and SC

- UPSL General Manager San Antonio Runners