Why Southlake Carroll could look in-house for its next head football coach
Interviews have begun for the vacant head football coach position at Southlake Carroll, and the school district is expected to consider experienced candidates from across the country.
If Carroll ultimately looks in-house, one name frequently mentioned is defensive coordinator Lee Munn, who has established relationships inside the program.
Here are a few reasons Carroll ISD could consider that option:
Experience at the highest level
In 2018, new Carroll head coach Riley Dodge made his first hire: Lee Munn as his defensive coordinator. Both of them were 29 years old at the time, relatively young for a coach.
For the next eight years, they grew together, gaining experience near the top of Texas high school football.
In December, Dodge spoke about why he chose to hire Munn, who didn’t have experience as a defensive coordinator.
Dodge said after interviews with some of the top coordinators in the state, there was “no question” who Carroll’s DC would be. Dodge called Munn “one of the best teachers of the game.”
Dodge, now at SMU as a tight ends coach and passing game coordinator, spoke highly of Munn’s potential head coaching abilities before his departure was made public, saying, “He is going to be an amazing head coach.”
Did Dodge publicly endorse Munn? Not necessarily. Ultimately, it’s not his decision to make.
However, he did repost a tweet from Shane Tolleson, who was recently hired as Denton Ryan’s head coach.
“[Lee Munn] would be huge for the Dragons!,” Tolleson wrote. “Where do I vote?”
In addition to that, someone very close to Riley publicly endorsed Munn for the job, according to the Dallas Morning News: former Carroll and current Lovejoy head coach Todd Dodge, Riley’s father and a seven-time state champion.
Why do districts consider promoting from within?
Although different districts will have different priorities, you can get a glimpse as to why Carroll would promote from within by taking a look at a similar, championship-contending program: North Crowley.
Crowley ISD’s search for a head coach after the departure of Ray Gates was relatively quick. Although it did its due diligence, the district knew it had its man: defensive coordinator DeMarcus Harris.
What was the reasoning?
According to Crowley ISD, the move was made to emphasize the “district’s commitment to sustaining a championship-caliber program and reinforcing the momentum of one of the nation’s most competitive high school football teams.”
It was about maintaining the same Panther identity created during a state championship run.
Carroll could take the same approach.
Munn has spent the better part of a decade building meaningful relationships with Dragon football coaches. And it would be a way for the district to showcase to the football staff that it values loyalty.
Surely, Munn has had opportunities to leave in his eight years with the program, but he chose to stay with Carroll and help develop one of Texas’ top programs.
He consistently led a Carroll defense that was among the best in the state at a program where, historically, top-rated recruits are often packed on the offensive end.
This season, the Dragons (14-1) conceded 12.5 points per game, and the unit had one of the best defensive seasons in Dallas-Fort Worth.
There is one key difference between Munn and Harris: Munn doesn’t have experience as a full-time head coach.
Then again, neither did Riley Dodge before leading the Dragons in 2018. It was a risk, and Dodge ultimately lived up to his last name, keeping the program at an elite level.
At this point in his career, however, Munn is far more experienced than Dodge was when he was hired.
His eight years as a defensive coordinator at Carroll, especially considering the program’s consistent level of elite play, arguably make him one of the top coordinators in Texas.
And although Munn hasn’t served as a full-time head coach, he has stepped into the role on a grand stage.
In what was arguably Carroll’s best win in a decade, Munn took over head coaching duties for Riley Dodge, who was out due to COVID-19 protocols in a state semifinal clash with Duncanville in 2020; the Dragons seized a 34-27 win.
With whoever the district ends up hiring, one thing is clear: The Dragons don’t want to compete for state championships — they want to win Carroll’s first since 2011.
During Dodge’s tenure, the program fell just short in heartbreaking fashion, but knocked loudly on the doorstep.
In a few playoff losses, including in 2025, the Dragons were one play away from flipping the outcome.
The risk of an outside hire
Whether Carroll makes an internal or external hire, the goal of getting over the hump stays the same.
A fresh start could redefine Carroll’s standards and culture. Carroll ISD needs to answer one question: Does a team with a 108-10 record, four regional titles and two state championship appearances over the past eight seasons need that type of drastic change?
If the program transitions from Dodge to Munn, it can continue to put the team in the same position to thrive and, potentially, win titles with the same expectations, foundation and process.
If the district opts to look outside the program, it could find a proven head coach with championship experience.
At the same time, that head coach will need to start over. Relationships will need to be built with players and coaches.
It could be a game-changing, wildly successful move. The district will also need to recognize that drastic change doesn’t guarantee progress. The Dragons already have extraordinary success compared to the vast majority of Class 6A programs.
If Carroll ISD believes the path to the next state championship is built on preserving the Dragon standard while sharpening the final edge, then continuity and Munn’s established relationships may offer the clearest route to finally breaking through.
.jpg)