Staff Report
DRIPPING SPRINGS — Former Dripping Springs High School head baseball coach Chris Payne was named the new assistant athletic director for Dripping Springs ISD.
During his 20 years leading the Tiger baseball program, Payne compiled 427 career victories — the third most wins by a coach in any sport in school history, according to a DSISD news release. He guided the Tigers to 17 playoff appearances, five district championships and two state tournament appearances. Under his leadership, 88 student-athletes also committed to continue their careers at the collegiate level.
He was a four-time district coach of the year and earned Texas High School Coaches Association Region 8 Coach of the Year honors in 2025.
Payne led one of the most successful stretches in program history during his final two seasons as head coach, the release continued. In 2025, he led the team to its first state semifinal appearance in 27 years and its first district championship as a Class 6A program. The Tigers followed that success with another state semifinal appearance in 2026, setting school records for wins at 32, hits at 356 and shutouts at 13.
Before becoming head baseball coach at DSHS, Payne served for five years as athletic coordinator at Dripping Springs Middle School. In that role, he was the head football coach, an assistant high school baseball coach and taught special education and physical education.
He is a graduate of then-Southwest Texas State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports science.
Payne and his wife, Kristin, have three children, Colton, Coy and Janessa, a daughter-in-law, Macy, and two grandchildren, Callie and Carter.
He will begin his new role immediately.
