Legacy’s Frank Maldonado, Permian’s Tate Smith earn Texas 50 assistant coaches honors

TEXAS (KOSA) - The Texas 50 is a new recognition to honor the top assistant high school football coaches in the state.

It announced the inaugural class, which includes coaches across all classifications, 1A-6A.

Two Permian Basin area coaches earned a spot on the list: Midland Legacy’s Frank Maldonado and Permian’s Tate Smith.

The Permian Panthers finished 2025 with an 11-2 record, losing in the Regional Semifinal (Third Round) to the Allen Eagles. All 11 of the wins were consecutive and the most in a season since 2008.

The Legacy Rebels finished 2025 with a 6-6 record, losing in the Area Round (Second Round) to the North Crowley Panthers. The Rebels were 4-1 in district, only losing to district champion Permian.

The inaugural Texas 50 class was selected by a committee of respected Texas football leaders:

● Scott Surratt (11x State Champion Coach)

● Todd Dodge (1980 Parade All-American, 4x State Champion Coach)

● D.W. Rutledge (4x State Champion Coach, Executive Director of Texas High School Coaches Association)

● Dr. Charles Breithaupt (Selection Committee Chair, Former UIL Executive Director)

Those selected to the Texas 50 will participate in a four-part Master Class Series in April and a capstone event in June in Waco.

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)

• Neil 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)