Plano East Athletic Director to Lead 21,000-Member Texas High School Coaches' Association
September 9, 2011
Johnny Ringo president-elect of state group
Plano East Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Johnny Ringo will lead what he calls,
"The greatest group of coaches in the world," when the Texas High School Coaches' Association passes him the president's gavel in 2012.
Enjoy this video of Coach Johnny Ringo sharing his passion for promoting and supporting kids and coaches.
~A Plano ISD TVProduction
Currently serving as president-elect of the 21,000 member association, Johnny said, "When I was a young coach, many coaches went out of their way to help me. This is one way that I can give back, to support high school coaches and students across the state of Texas."
"All of us at Plano East Senior High School are very proud of Johnny, said Principal Karen McDonald. "His election is a well-deserved honor. Having coached successfully at most every level, he's earned his reputation as a great football coach; he's also, however, a great guy who really cares about kids. Special talents of Johnny's are identifying, developing and leading a quality team of coaching professionals. We're very fortunate to have him leading our football and athletics programs."
"I have the best job in the world," said Johnny, who played football for the University of Texas when it won the 1983 Southwest Conference Championship. At all four high schools where Johnny has coached, his offenses have been state ranked. At Uvalde, Coppell and Plano East, his teams finished in the AP Top 10 at the end of the regular season.
Plano ISD Athletic Director Gerald Brence echoed Karen's sentiments, stating that, "Coach Ringo does a great job with all the kids at Plano East. He not only is the athletic director but he is involved with the student body as well. He represents the school in a great way."
Pictured coaching at the September 9 Panthers football game, Johnny said, "We want our kids, when they leave us, to be better people for having been in our program." Photo by Lindsey Spillman, Plano East Yearbook
Johnny is Plano ISD's first coach to serve as president of the state high school coaches' association. He said that he looks forward to serving all high school coaches as he "learns the ins and outs of improving the association."
Of his Plano East coaching staff, Johnny said, "We have a great group of coaches in place. I provide them with resources and then get out of their way."
Coaching Career
A graduate of The University of Texas where he played football and was a member of the 1983 Southwest Conference Championship team, Johnny entered the coaching field one year later at Austin Westlake where he was middle school coordinator for two years. He later served as a graduate assistant, coaching at Texas Tech and The University of Texas.
Johnny is pictured at Plano East Senior High School during a Panther practice session this week.
He returned to Westlake in 1987 as the offensive coordinator where he enjoyed an overall 39-6 record and helped advance high school football teams to the state finals, semi-finals and quarter-finals.
Johnny's career also includes these coaching posts.
Uvalde High School Athletic Director/Head Football Coach (16-4-1)
Irving MacArthur High School (9-2 second year, advanced to bi-district)
Coppell High School - Johnny took over a program that hadn't been to the playoffs in 30 years. In his third year, the Cowboys went 11-2 advancing to the regional round, one of the team's best seasons.
Southern Methodist University - football coach/two years
Plano East Senior High School (seven years as head coach; his 2006 team finished 10-3 advancing to the regional round, which ranks as one of the top four teams in Plano East history)
Football Family
There is no coach who can hold a candle to his father, Coach Alvin Ringo, who served as his first mentor and who led Johnny's high school football team from 1977-79 in Carrizo, Texas. Johnny credits many of his coaching and leadership skills to his father.
In addition to his father, Johnny's father-in-law Charlie Spano is a retired Texas high school coach. His brother-in-law Kyle Spano coaches the offensive line at Lake Travis, Texas, and has been part of its last three state championships. His nephew Kody Spano is a quarterback at Nebraska.
Johnny said that his family also includes "my biggest supporters" - wife Tamerah, Coppell ISD public relations director, and daughter Haley, a college freshman.
At all four high schools where Johnny Ringo has coached, his offenses have been state ranked, and at Uvalde, Coppell and Plano East, his teams finished in the AP Top 10 at the end of the regular season. His awards include:
District Coach of the Year (three times)
Dallas Cowboys NFL Coach of the Week (four times)
Dallas Morning News Coach of the Year (1999)
Gatorade Coaches Care Honor Roll (1994)
MaxPreps' Top 100 High School Coaches in the U.S. (2006)
Pictured coaching at the September 9 Panthers football game, Johnny said, "We want our kids, when they leave us, to be better people for having been in our program." Photo by Lindsey Spillman, Plano East Yearbook 
Johnny is pictured at Plano East Senior High School during a Panther practice session this week.
There is no coach who can hold a candle to his father, Coach Alvin Ringo, who served as his first mentor and who led Johnny's high school football team from 1977-79 in Carrizo, Texas. Johnny credits many of his coaching and leadership skills to his father. 
