Vandegrift's Sanders earns statewide coaching honor

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AUSTIN (KXAN) — The only coach in Vandegrift football history is just as quick to point out that he’s not only the winningest coach in program history, but also the coach with the most losses.

Drew Sanders has built the Vandegrift program into a perennial power, and they took the final step in 2024, winning their first state title.

The team earned hardware for the Class 6A Division II title, and now their head coach earned some of his own.

Sanders was named the Texas High School Coaches Association football coach of the year

“I was kind of lost,” said Sanders. “I saw your volleyball coach and I thought maybe this was some kind of P.E. thing or a tour of facilities.”

Being lost is understandable. At the end of the Vipers’ spring practice Wednesday, staff, former players and members of the Texas High School Coaches Association descended upon Ed W. Monroe Memorial Stadium.

“I kind of felt overwhelmed and I really get emotional about our players” said Sanders. “They mean so much to me. That’s why I do this. That’s why I started coaching 26, 27 years ago.”

As the Vipers took down Southlake Carroll to earn the title in December 2024, the emotion was clear for Sanders and his team. Typically, however, coaches like to turn the page quickly and focus on the next task.

The leader of Vandegrift certainly abides by that line of thinking.

“The accolades will come, and it’s an interesting thing because I’m not retired. We’re still trying to accomplish something here,” he said. “You have to work really hard to shut the noise out when you need to shut the noise out. And then also accept it when the time is right to accept it.”

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