Midland High taps Hayden Hicks to lead boys soccer program

The goal for Hayden Hicks was to be a head coach and now he will be getting his opportunity with the Midland High boys soccer program.

Midland ISD announced Hicks as the new head coach of the Bulldogs on Tuesday after he spent three years at Goddard Junior High, the last two of those years as the boys soccer coach with the Raiders.

He takes over after Jason Bush resigned last month to take a job outside of teaching and coaching and spend more time with family. Bush coached the Bulldogs for eight seasons and led the program to a pair of district championships and five playoff appearances.

Hicks is a 2019 Lee High School graduate and played for his father, Scott, and the Rebels from 2015-19. Hicks said he also attended Midland College before getting his degree from Texas Tech.

"It's a dream come true, to be honest," Hicks said. "Ever since I started teaching and coaching, I've been figuring out my coaching philosophy, my coaching style. I had to coach multiple sports to decide what I wanted to pursue and I'm glad soccer fell my way. I think that's my true passion and it's a sport that I really wanted to specialize in, so I'm really glad I got the job and I'm really excited that I get to spend the whole year on one sport rather than four."

Hicks said he was also coaching football, basketball and track at Goddard.

He said his dad is a big influence on him.

"He has 30-plus years of coaching experience and having him by my sides, I've learned everything from him," Hicks said. "I have something to lean back on. Every time I have a question, anytime I try to develop something in my coaching or teaching career, my dad is right there to help me out."

Midland ISD Executive Director of Athletics Wes Torres said that Hicks not only comes from a soccer background, he comes from a coaching and teaching family and he's got a lot of energy.

"I'm excited about the knowledge and the passion that he brings for soccer to the Bulldog program," Torres said. "Obviously, we're grateful for Coach Bush and everything that he has built for Midland High and we're excited to see what Coach Hicks is able to do with that."

Hicks said he also learned a lot from the two athletic coordinators he had at Goddard, beginning with Antwan Alexander and then most recently under Terrance Green.

"It's important that you learn how to be a coordinator and what the difference between coaching and coordinating a whole program, and developing a culture like we did at Goddard," Hicks said. "From when I first got the job at Goddard until now, it's completely two different campuses. Being able to be a part of that; changing the culture and helping the program grow are some of the best things I've learned from being at the middle school."

Hicks said he's gotten to know quite a few MHS soccer players over the year and he's watched them play and go through the summer strength and conditioning program in recent days.

"They're a great group of boys," he said. "We've got a strong lower class, we've got some young guys who challenge our upperclassmen and I think everybody is going to make each other stronger. We've got threats everywhere."

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