Lehman High School’s Athletic Coordinator & Head Football Coach is Chris Castillo. Castillo is a passionate coach who has dedicated his career to empowering young athletes and building champions. He has been making a positive impact on the lives of young people for nearly two decades.
“As the head coach and athletic coordinator at two urban school district football programs, I have led them to unprecedented success because of my commitment to treat the kids with respect and dignity while also challenging them to become the best versions of themselves,” said Castillo. “My goal at Lehman High School is to be a strong influence in the daily lives of student-athletes, in the classroom, and on the playing field. I understand the academic and athletic demands that our student-athletes encounter. I also understand the necessity of the athletic coordinator and head football coach to communicate effectively, foster positive relationships, and initiate a positive attitude to create a winning environment. I believe that I am the person who can create the culture and attitude of success.”
Before being hired by Hays CISD in February 2023, Castillo took the San Antonio Highland’s team to its first district championship in 22 years. Before Castillo joined the Owls, they had just won three games in their two previous seasons combined. He led the Owls to the playoffs each year and had a 15-13 record at Highlands.
“He excels at coaching,” said Dr. Eric Wright, Hays CISD Superintendent. “He’s an excellent teacher who knows the importance of keeping a focus on academics. And, he has had success not just with football programs, but all sports under his leadership – tennis, water polo, volleyball, wrestling, golf, softball, and many more.”
Coach Chris Castillo is a dedicated and passionate coach who is making a positive impact on the lives of young athletes in San Antonio. He is not just building a successful football program, but also developing young men who will go on to be leaders in their communities. His commitment to character development and community involvement sets him apart and has made him a beloved figure in San Antonio.
Prior to his head coaching job at Highland, he was a defensive line coach at John Jay in San Antonio. Before that, he was the head coach at Sunset, in Dallas ISD. When he arrived there, the program had only twelve athletes. He grew the program to 120 students by the time he left. He had a 1-9 record each season from 2016-2018.
Castillo graduated from Waco University High School in 1997. Castillo holds a Bachelor of Arts from Texas A&M University (2003) and a Master of Education from Hardin-Simmons University. He served as a graduate assistant at Hardin Simmons and Southern Illinois. He also coached high school in Greenville and Baltimore, Maryland, followed by a stint as a college coach at John Hopkins. He came back to Texas high school coaching at Lytle for two years before obtaining his position at Sunset.