UIL Announces Extended Suspension of All UIL Activities

THURSDAY, MARCH 19

THE UIL IS EXTENDING ITS SUSPENSION OF ALL UIL SANCTIONED ACTIVITIES DUE TO THE OUTBREAK OF COVID-19 IN TEXAS. ALL CONTESTS, PRACTICES, REHEARSALS AND WORKOUTS WILL REMAIN SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

Football: Todd Ford named next Plano head coach

Matt Welch mwelch@starlocalmedia.com

On Tuesday, Plano Senior High School introduced Todd Ford as the the Wildcats' next head football coach and athletics coordinator. Ford joins Plano following a four-year run at Lovejoy, where he led the Leopards to a 7-4 finish and a spot in the Class 5A Division II playoffs. During Ford's time at Lovejoy, the program posted a 24-20 record, highlighted by an eight-win campaign in 2018, and qualified for the playoffs three consecutive years.

Prior to joining Lovejoy, Ford spent six seasons as the head coach at Cedar Ridge – a stop that followed a successful run as the offensive coordinator at Southlake Carroll under Todd Dodge, where he was part of three state championship teams. Ford also coached under Dodge at the University of North Texas.

Ford's hiring by Plano marks just the fifth head football coach in program history. That process took a unique turn earlier this month when Plano ISD had initially hired Denton Braswell's Cody Moore, who less than 24 hours after being approved by the school board, announced that he was instead staying at Braswell.

Ford inherits a ball club that posted a 5-5 record in 2019 and fell one win short of the postseason. He takes over for Jaydon McCullough, who tallied a record of 70-59 over 12 seasons as the Wildcats' head coach.

Administrative Appointment: Director of Athletics Jeff Smith

February 4, 2020

As recommended by Superintendent of Schools Sara Bonser, the Plano ISD Board of Trustees has approved Jeff Smith as Plano ISD’s next athletic director, replacing Gerald Brence who retired in December 2019.

Coach Smith brings 24 years of experience and has served as assistant athletic director in Prosper ISD, During his leadership in Prosper, Smith has seen two district championships, sixty-four Academic All-State Athletes, a number of regional appearances and a Top 10 spot in the University Interscholastic League’s (UIL) Lone Star Cup standings.

Prior to joining Prosper ISD, Smith served as head football coach and athletic coordinator at McKinney High School in McKinney ISD, taking teams to the playoffs two years in a row in 2017 and 2018.

His coaching experience across boys and girls athletics includes membership in the Texas High School Coaches Association, the Texas Girls Coaches Association, the Texas Athletic Directors Association and the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. He earned a bachelor of science degree in education from Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

Smith’s selection follows a search process that included an opportunity for community members to provide input into the qualities and experiences they wanted to see in the new athletics department head. The district heard from nearly 300 parents, staff members and other interested community members who offered feedback which helped develop the candidate profile, as well as inform questions asked by the selection committee.

“I would like to thank our community for providing a vital voice in this selection process,” said Superintendent of Schools Sara Bonser. “Jeff Smith is an exceptional leader and a well-rounded mentor and coach, offering a breadth of diverse experiences including knowledge of our Plano ISD athletics structure. In his own words, Jeff aspires to be ‘a leader worth following,’ and I look forward to seeing not just how he leads our athletic program, but also how he develops our student athletes through strong, positive experiences.”  

Smith has coached successful athletes and teams around north Texas and looks forward to his new position in Plano ISD. “My family and I could not be more excited about the opportunity to lead the athletic program in Plano ISD,” said Smith. “Plano ISD has an incredible tradition of excellence and I look forward to serving the students, staff and parents of this great community.”

Athletic Director Jeff Smith with wife Kelli (right) and daughter Allie.