KYLE — A new athletic coordinator and head football coach was named for Lehman High School.

On Monday, Feb. 13, Hays CISD Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright announced that Christopher Castillo would assume the positions and that the board of trustees approved the hiring decision.

“Coach Castillo is going to be an outstanding addition to the Lehman team and our greater Hays CISD family,” Wright said. “He excels at coaching. 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. We are excited to welcome coach Castillo.”

This comes after former coach Bruce Salmon resigned at the end of the football season last year because he was moving out of the state, according to chief communications officer Tim Savoy. Taylor Greene served as the interim head football coach; he was the assistant athletic coordinator and assistant head football coach prior to Salmon’s resignation.

Castillo is the current athletic coordinator and head football coach at Highlands High School in San Antonio. He began his coaching career at Hardin-Simmons University as a two-year graduate assistant and made college coaching career stops at Southern Illinois University and at Johns Hopkins University.

His high school coaching career includes being an assistant at Greenville High School, the defensive coordinator at Lytle High School and an assistant coach at John Jay High School. Before becoming the head football coach at Highlands High School, Castillo served in that role at Sunset High School in Dallas.

“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,” Castillo said in a news release.

“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.”

Castillo’s recent track record shows he took the Highlands High School team to its first district championship in 22 years and ensured all of his teams had high GPAs averaging above 3.0.