KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
May 21, 2019
By Jennifer Miko
On Monday, May 20, the two newly-elected members of the Board of Trustees for Katy ISD were sworn into office. During their Work Study meeting, the new Board approved a personnel report that included the replacement of retiring Cinco Ranch High School (CRHS) Coach Don Clayton.
Lance Redmon and Donald T. "Duke" Keller, Jr.
The newest members of the Katy ISD Board of Trustees got to work last night at their first official meetings - Donald T. “Duke” Keller, Jr. serving as trustee for Position 1 and Lance Redmon serving in Position 2. Both candidates were elected by the Katy ISD community on Saturday, May 4.
After taking the oath of office, Keller and Redmon began their roles as part of the school district trustees for the remainder of the Work Study meeting and in a closed meeting. The Board of Trustees announced that Chris Dudley will take the reigns as the CRHS Campus Athletic Coordinator and Head Football Coach beginning Tuesday, May 21.
New Football Coach for Cinco Ranch High School
Dudley comes to CRHS from Taylor High School where he recently completed his first season as the Assistant Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator and Health Education Teacher. Dudley was also a nominee for the 2019 Greater Houston Area Football Coaches Association (GHFCA) Assistant Coach of the Year.
Dudley served as CRHS’ varsity position coach from July 2003 to February 2018. He helped create a successful football program there and helped the Cougars reach the state semifinals in 2009 and 2016.
Chris Dudley, new CRHS Campus Athletic Coordinator and Head Football Coach
In a district press release, Dudley said, “I have had the privilege to work with many of the head coaches at Cinco Ranch High for several years and can leverage those great relationships to help bring Cougar athletics to the next level of excellence.”
Big Shoes to Fill
When CRHS first opened in 1999, Clayton started the program there, and for 20 years, he was the only football coach the Cougars had ever known. Clayton coached CRHS to a winning record, and two years later, the team would reach the playoffs for the first time. His overall record with the Cougars: 141-78. Clayton announced his retirement on April 15.
“I’m also honored to follow in the footsteps of Coach Don Clayton, who helped build an elite program over a 20 year period,” added Dudley.
The Katy ISD Board of Trustees is the governing body that oversees and shapes district policies. Individuals serving as a board member are not employees of Katy ISD, yet they dedicate countless hours to lead the district.