High School

5-time Texas high school football state champion head coach steps down

After 18 seasons at the helm of Gunter, Jake Fieszel has stepped down as the Tigers' lead man

Andy Villamarzo

Gunter's head football coach Jake Fieszel watches a play during the Class 3A, Division II State Championship game on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Gunter's head football coach Jake Fieszel watches a play during the Class 3A, Division II State Championship game on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. / Angela Piazza/Caller-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

According to a report by The Herald Democrat's Jason Della Rosa, one of Texas high school football's most decorated head coaches has decided to step away from the game.

Jake Fieszel has stepped down as Gunter's head football coach after 18 seasons at the helm of one of the Lone Star State's top small school programs. During Fieszel's near two decades of coaching up the Tigers, he compiled an overall record of 224-31 and won five Class 3A Division II state championships.

According to multiple outlets, Fieszel, who also is no longer the school's athletic director, cited personal reasons for his resignation from Gunter.

Down below is the bio for Fieszel on the Gunter's school website:

I was born in Dallas, TX in 1979 and have lived in Texas all my life. Graduated from Frisco High School in 1998 and attended the University of Texas where I graduated with a degree in Biology. I have been married to my beautiful wife Taylor for 10 years and together we have 3 children - Bear, Berkley and Colbie who all attend GES. 2022 will be my 16th year as head coach of the Tigers.

This past 2024 season, Fieszel led Gunter to a 14-2 record en route to defeating Woodville for the Class 3A, Division II crown, 28-0.

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Andy Villamarzo
ANDY VILLAMARZO

Andy Villamarzo has been a sports writer in the Tampa Bay (FL) Area since 2007, writing for publications such as Tampa Bay Times, The Tampa Tribune, The Suncoast News, Tampa Beacon, Hernando Sun to name a few. Andy resides out of the Tarpon Springs, FL area and started as a writer with SB Live Sports in the summer of 2022 covering the Tampa Bay Area. He has quickly become one of Florida's foremost authorities on high school sports, appearing frequently on podcasts, radio programs and digital broadcasts as an expert on team rankings, recruiting and much more.

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