Les Goad’s season of transition has been made easier by something he hasn’t often seen in his 33 years of coaching high school football.
“He has a work ethic and level of commitment I haven’t often seen,” the Hays High coach recently raved to Empower Texans of senior star, outside linebacker Garrett Moore. “He’s a great leader, someone who has great passion and is always focused.”
And the results have been undeniable for Hays, where Goad took over in March.The team is off to one of the school’s best starts in recent memory at 7-0, equaling the program’s win total over the last two seasons combined.
It all starts with the 5-foot-11, 175-pound Moore, who Goad said was easily voted in as one of the team captains to start the season.
“The guys not only like him they respect him based on how hard they know he works,” Goad said. “Everyone has bought into the system and new schemes we as coaches have implemented, and a lot of it has to do with Garrett’s attitude and commitment.”
Though the two haven’t talked about it, Goad said he can see Moore playing past his days at Hays.
“I think he would like to if the opportunity presents itself,” he said. “I know he’s a great high school player and one of our best students, so he certainly has a lot to offer. He comes from a family that has high standards.”
Hays wraps up the regular season with road games at Westlake and Del Valle sandwiched in between hosting Lake Travis.
Goad took over at Hays after several seasons at Geronimo Navarro, where he posted a 108-27 career record to go with five district titles.
Overall, the program qualified for the postseason in 10 of his 11 seasons, including advancing to the Class 4A state semifinal in 2016.