Summer Creek Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator James Harper has been named to the inaugural Texas 50 presented by The Taylor Collective.
Selected from UIL Class 1A to 6A, the Texas 50 honors assistant coaches who are instrumental in the success of programs across Texas high school football.
“Coach Harper is one of the best defensive minded coaches in the business,” Summer Creek Head Coach Kenny Harrison said.
Harper is one of eight assistant football coaches from the Greater Houston Area to be named to the inaugural class.
The inaugural class was selected by a committee of respected Texas football leaders:
● Scott Surratt
● Todd Dodge
● D.W. Rutledge
● Dr. Charles Breithaupt
“Assistant coaches are essential to the success and stability of high school programs across Texas,” Texas 50 Selection Committee Chair Dr. Charles Breithaupt said in a news release. “The Texas 50 recognizes those who are making a lasting impact on their programs and helping shape the future of the game.”
Members of the Texas 50 will participate in a four-part Master Class Series in April, followed by a capstone event on June 17th in Waco, Texas. The experience is designed to both recognize excellence and invest in the continued development of coaches across the state.
The inaugural Texas 50 marks the beginning of an annual tradition that will continue to recognize and connect the top assistant football coaches across Texas.
Texas 50 — Inaugural Class (2026)
• Mike Aguilar (Harlingen)
• Jonathan Blackman (El Campo)
• Scott Belcher (Windthorst)
• Jermaine Carpenter (Waco La Vega)
• Mark Chester (Gregory-Portland)
• Eric De Los Santos (Dripping Springs)
• Blake Dunham (Austin Westlake)
• Adley Eshragapour (Southlake Carroll)
• Brett Esparza (PSJA North)
• Clint Endsley (Carthage)
• Timothy Flanders (Lake Travis)
• Juan Garcia (Jim Ned)
• Gilbert Gardner (Angleton)
• Ryan Hamilton (Melissa)
• James Harper (Summer Creek)
• Colby Hartfield (Denton Guyer)
• Chase Hargis (Allen)
• James Hawkins (Texas High)
• Jason Hicks (Newton)
• Jacob Jeffries (Manvel)
• Clay Kasprzyk (Poth)
• Kolt Kittley (Stephenville)
• Robert Lewis, Jr. (Clear Brook)
• Brody Lipsey (Gilmer)
• Matt Loucks (Georgetown)
• Ryan Luedecke (Lake Travis)
• Frank Maldonado (Midland Lee)
• Brad McCone (Aledo)
• Matt McDaniel (Port Neches-Groves)
• Brandon Murdock (Lovejoy)
• Jordan Mullinnix (Brock)
• Elliot Parkman (Lovejoy)
• Al Pena (Dripping Springs)
• Brian Poynor (Seminole)
• Darren Preston (Carthage)
• Josh Rankin (Longview)
• Shad Reed (Gordon)
• Ryan Redding (San Antonio Johnson)
• Tim Ripperger (Katy)
• Neal Schuster (Los Fresnos)
• Stephen Silva (Sinton)
• Thomas Sitton (Henderson)
• Tate Smith (Odessa Permian)
• Matt Spann (Melissa)
• Marcus Thompson (Waco Midway)
• Matthew Valmore (Barbers Hill)
• Blake Waggoner (Hamshire-Fannett)
• Brian Ware, Sr. (Cypress Ranch)
• Craig Wersterfer (Smithson Valley)
• J.D. Williams (Nederland)
• A.J. Wilson (Texas High)
The Texas 50 is presented by The Taylor Collective, a leadership and consulting organization focused on elevating coaches, programs, and communities.