Lacey Steele- THSCA Athletic Trainer of the Year
Lacey Steele is from northern Utah. She graduated with a masters in Athletic Training last year from Brigham Young University. She moved to Lubbock shortly after to support her newlywed husband going to medical school at Texas Tech University. During her internships in Utah as a graduate student athletic trainer, she gravitated toward working in high school athletics. She loves working with young athletes who were teachable and who she could be an example for. This led her to apply to Lubbock Monterey Highschool where she currently works. Her first official year on the job has been a humbling and gratifying experience.
Jack Alvarez- THSCA Coaching Beyond the Game Award
Jack Alvarez is 58 years of age. He grew up in Monette Arkansas, a small town that did not have high school football. I played in my first game as a senior in high school and was fortunate to get an opportunity to play college football at Henderson State University where he met his wife Kim. Kim is the Special Education Director for Marshall ISD. They two have children. Brandon is the Athletic Director Head Football Coach at Garrison High School. Kody is The Pastor at Oak Grove Baptist Church in China Springs. They have two grand daughters and a grandson.
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2020-2022 Cuero ISD Head Football Coach and Athletic Director
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2017-2019 Copperas Cove Head Football Coach/Athletic Director
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2011-2018 Ennis High School Head Football Coach/Athletic Director
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2000-2010 Kirbyville High School Head Football Coach/Athletic Director
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1998-1999 West Sabine High School, Pineland, TX
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1990-1997 Assistant Coach- Jasper, Lufkin and Newton High School
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1988-1990 Graduate Assistant McNeese, Northwestern State LA
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1984-1988 Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, AR
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Played Offensive Line for an Arkansas Legend Head Coach Ralf “Sporty” Carpenter
Bill Tilley- THSCA Curly Hays Officials Award
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Married to Donna, Children Derek and Rachel
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Regional Director of Sales for Onco360, Oncology Pharmacy
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Began officiating in 1990 in the South Plains Chapter
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Served as Division 5, Division 4, Division 3 and Division 1 Representative, Vice President and President
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Transferred to the Ft Worth Chapter in 2007
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Served as Vice President and President
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Officiated games at the Jr College, NCAA Division 3 and NCAA Division 2 levels and Arena Football.
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33 years as a Texas High School Football Official. First Varsity game was Petersburg @ Kress in 1990. Officiated his first State Championship game in 2012. Suffered a Sudden Cardiac Arrest at home after the Van vs Kennedale Playoff Game in 2017. Returned to officiating the next season and Officiated State Championship games in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. Last game was a Semifinal game between Edna and Franklin in 2022.
Matt Wilson- THSCA Distinguished Service Award
Matt Wilson is the Vice President of Sports & Events for the Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau in Arlington, Texas. In this position, Matt is responsible for marketing Arlington as a destination for sporting events ranging from national youth sports tournaments to NCAA championships and Super Bowls. Matt has served on the Local Organizing Committee for events such as the NCAA Final Four, College Football Playoff National Championship and Wrestlemania. Prior to his work in Arlington, Matt was a founding member of the Austin Sports Commission in Austin, Texas where he worked on events ranging from USA Taekwondo World Championships to Formula 1 racing. Matt's career began with an internship at the Sylvania Alamo Bowl in San Antonio that later materialized into his first full-time position immediately after graduating from Texas Tech University. In San Antonio, Matt worked for the Alamo Bowl, the US Army All-American Bowl and the East-West Shrine Game. Currently Matt serves as the Chairman of the Dallas-Fort Worth Area Tourism Council Sports Alliance, Executive Director of the Arlington Sports Commission and a member of the Maverick Club Advisory Committee (University of Texas – Arlington) and vice chair of the Texas Tech College of Media & Communication National Advisory Board.
Matt is a native West Texan and a proud graduate of Levelland High School ('96) and Texas Tech University ('01). Matt's family has strong ties to Texas Tech as his grandparents, parents and three siblings attending the university. He married his high school sweetheart, Leah, and together they enjoy their two beautiful young ladies – Ella and Ava.
Dennis Silva II- THSCA Putt Powell Sportswriter of the Year
Sports writer, Conroe Courier / Houston Chronicle Media Group
Dennis Silva II is a sports writer of 18 years, and most of his career has been spent covering high school athletics in the Greater Houston and South Texas areas. A sports writer for the Houston Chronicle Media Group, Silva grew up in the Houston area, where he graduated from the Katy Independent School District’s Mayde Creek High School. While studying at Mayde Creek, Silva was inspired by journalism advisor Shetye Cypher to pursue sports writing. Silva attended St. Mary’s University in San Antonio and is a Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science. He started his career with an internship as the content writer for the NBA’s Houston Rockets before serving as sports editor at the Laredo Morning Times and Katy Times newspapers, deputy sports editor at The Monitor newspaper in McAllen, and sports writer for VYPE Media and the Houston Chronicle. His sports writing and sports coverage have been recognized by the Associated Press Managing Editors, Associated Press Sports Editors and Texas Press Association. Silva is the son of Dennis and Cynthia Silva, and brother to Douglas Silva.
Mike Fullen- THSCA Tom Landry Award
Coach Mike Fullen was named the Athletic Coordinator/Head Football Coach for the Abilene High Eagles in June of 2019, guiding a return to the playoff the last three years. He is in his 28th year of education and his 25th year at Abilene High School. Coach Fullen is a graduate of Sonora High School and earned his bachelor’s degree from Angelo State University. Coach Fullen was a four-year member of the Angelo State football team and later served two years as a graduate coaching assistant.
Coach Fullen began his coaching career in 1995 in San Saba with stops at Comfort High School and Georgetown High School. Coach Fullen was named the defensive coordinator for Abilene High School in the spring of 2001. Developing a unique defense that meshed the 3-4 and 4-2-5 defense together. His defenses were instrumental in the success of Abilene High football with many district championships and annual runs in the playoffs that included a state championship in 2009.
Coach Fullen credits his college coach Mike Martin for encouraging him to get into the coaching profession. He has spent almost the entirety of his career at Abilene High School and has been mentored by some outstanding head coaches including Steve Warren (Abilene High) and Phil Blue (Georgetown). He credits the longevity of his stay at Abilene High to the relationships built with coaches and players, alignment of the administration, the support from the community of Abilene, and winning a lot of football games. He presently works with two exceptional mentors, Jim Garfield (Executive Director of Athletics) and Del Van Cox (Assistant Director of Athletics). Both men have been influential as district leaders and impactful to the athletic success at Abilene High School and in Abilene ISD.
Coach Fullen has been a member of the Texas High School Coaching Association (THSCA) since 1995 and served on the Board of Directors from 2018 to 2022. He was honored to coach in the THSCA All-Star football game in 2011.
Coach Fullen and his wife Lucille, who also works in Abilene ISD as Director of CTE, have three grown sons Kolt, Caleb, and Colby. Coach Fullen credits his wife for being supportive and walking with him through the good and tough times of the profession.