JOE STAFFORD - WRESTLING COACH OF THE YEAR 2014 & 2023
Joe Stafford - Tascosa
Why Honored: Joe Stafford coached the Lady Rebels to a state wrestling championship in 2014. This was a rare feat, as the team took home the gold despite not having an individual state champion. This was Tascosa's second state championship, the first under Stafford.
In 2023, Stafford once again led his team to an appearance at the State tournament. Wracking up an impressive 112 points, Stafford and the Rebels brought home the 5A State Championship title.
Quotable: "When you get an award like that, at least with me, it should be relabeled almost as the coaching staff of the year. Gary Chambers takes his job very seriously. Donna Welch takes her job very seriously. They do untold number of things behind the scenes that make our program what it is. I am the leader of the program, but in all honesty it's an award that will be shared with the whole coaching staff. When a team is successful at that level, it's not because of one guy, it's because of a group of people, and we work really well together."
- Stafford
