Starting a Texas football program: Inside Eagle Mountain high school’s startup journey
Eagle Mountain High School hosted its inaugural football practice on Monday.
Reaching the first week of football conditioning has been a milestone that assistant athletic director John Abendschan has been working toward for two years. Finding equipment for every sport has been a tough challenge, but the Knights have almost made it to the first day of school, which is Aug. 12.
Athletic coordinator and head football coach Jeremy Mullins and the Knights have embarked on a treacherous journey that will certainly involve growing pains, trial and error and self discovery.
At the start of 2024, EMS ISD Athletics needed to hire Eagle Mountain’s head coach. They interviewed Mullins, who was in the middle of leading Tolar to the Class 2A State Championship.
Mullins has a history with EMS ISD and coached at Boswell under Abendschan, who waited to fully pursue, and wanted to respect Tolar’s ongoing season. But, considering Mullins’ track record and winning personality, they knew he was a strong candidate for a start-up-school.
Mullins was hired in January as Eagle Mountain’s head coach and athletic coordinator. He was then charged with finding football assistants and hiring head coaches for other sports that match that school’s teaching needs.
“I really enjoyed working for them,” Mullins said of his past with EMS ISD. “My family really enjoyed our time here. I have a daughter that started kindergarten in this district. My wife teaches here. … It was the right opportunity, the right time to make a little transition in our life.”
Mullins also credited Eagle Mountain’s campus and facilities, calling it the “top of the line.”
“When (EMS ISD) builds a school, they’re gonna do it the right way,” Mullins said.
Building the Knight culture
Mullins has been coaching in high school football for 18 years. He said there is something alluring about the challenge of opening a school, creating traditions and establishing a brand.
But starting a new athletic program is easier said than done.
“There’s something I’m learning every day,” Mullins said. “You’ve got your ideas and you think you have certain ways that you hope it’s gonna go. Like life, nothing’s perfect. There’s gonna be some, some bumps in the road but there’s a lot of excitement though within that as well.”
Mullins is focused on getting to know the students, who are entering a fresh situation at Eagle Mountain High School. Some had to transfer from other schools in EMS ISD, which can be challenging for a teenager looking to grow friendships and find an identity.
“He’s getting kids excited about changing from being a Pioneer or Rough Rider into being a Knight,” Abendschan said.
The off season will be far from normal considering Mullins had to hire a staff and focus on transferring students. He spent some of the summer making connections at EMS ISD high and middle schools.
“They have made a connection to every kid and I think that’s a secret in the sauce,” Abendschan said. “They’ve made home visits to many kids. They have made sure that every kid has a part in what they’re doing and they’re connected with the other teammates and the rest will take care of itself.”
For the program’s first year, the Knights won’t have any seniors on the roster. Underclassmen won’t have experienced teammates to look up to, so Mullins wants his staff to be the primary role models until the juniors make their voices known.
“It’s being intentional and making sure our coaching staff does a good job of leading the way in the beginning and helping those guys get their footing,” Mullins said. “At some point, we’ve got to grow up and take those steps on our own.”
Most of the athletes on Eagle Mountain’s football team have zero varsity experience. Mullins will focus on the little things to make sure the Knights are ready for a varsity high school football game.
“That first game comes at the end of August,” Abendschan said. “Let’s make sure we run out of the tunnel correctly. Let’s make sure we line up in our formation correctly. Let’s make sure the kids understand what theme they’re supposed to be on. I was running a program for 17 years and that’s not always easy.”
Inside the redistricting process
Abendschan was on Flower Mound Marcus’ staff when Flower Mound High School opened its doors. He said the transition was unfriendly due to clashing egos.
Of course, competitive coaches want to keep the best players. But the redistricting process is outside of their control, and Abendschan said EMS ISD coaches have accepted that.
Abendschan said Boswell coach Wes Weaver, Saginaw coach Mike Peters have been supportive and helpful throughout the transition. Similar to Mullins, Chisholm Trail head coach Ricklan Holmes was hired in early January.
Many EMS ISD staff, including Abendschan, experienced the opening of a new school with Chisholm Trail in 2012. The experience led them to be more understanding of Eagle Mountain’s challenges.
“You’re losing people to another program, guys may have started for you as sophomores now going to another high school,” Avendchan said. “And that’s not easy because you’ve invested in them since they were a seventh grader. That’s a that’s a difficult thing to do.”
Eagle Mountain students have played together or against one another throughout their lives. Now, a “culture melding” is bringing them together as Knights.
Mullins said one challenge is getting student-athletes from different middle schools and high schools and merging them together while creating a sense of unity.
The Knights are starting from ground zero, and Mullins understands some students may be more excited than others to endure a startup process.
“It’s probably tough for some,” Mullins said. “They’ve been at a place for so long or maybe they had a brother or sibling or parent that graduated from another high school and then they have to having to go to a different one.”
Athletes and students may have questions about Eagle Mountain High School. The Knights don’t have an established culture, but current students have a rare opportunity to set the tone for future generations.
Breaking down the schedule
Eagle Mountain High School is in Class 4A. The Knights are expected to grow, but will stay with smaller schools during its opening years.
Mullins and company will open the season against Jacksboro on Aug. 30 and the rest of the schedule includes Grandview, Paradise, Ferris, Benbrook, Brock, Burkburnett, Bridgeport, Mineral Wells and Graham.
Abendschan emphasized that the Knights will focus on self improvement. Win or lose, individuals will have a chance to showcase their talents.
“And it’s a lesson – you control what you can control,” Abendschan said. “And all we can do is teach them. … It’s teaching the game of football, teaching them how to be excited and trying to make them better than they were.”
The school does not have a history and it’s brand is just starting to grow. Mullins will be tasked with teaching athletes what it means to play football as an Eagle Mountain Knight.
“I put a lot of pressure on Jeremy [Mullins],” Abendschan said. “So, that’s part of my job. But he can handle it.”
Mullins acknowledged his competitiveness and that one goal is to put up points and win football games. He said the main priority, however, is to create belief within the program and to build relationships.
Mullins emphasized the Knights’ growth will be a difficult process that won’t happen overnight.
“It can be difficult, but I’ve been really excited and proud of the guys that we’ve been around this summer,” Mullins said. “The morale has been great. They’ve shown up, work their tails off and we’re excited to see what they do this fall.”
This story was originally published August 6, 2024 at 9:33 AM.
.jpg)