PMHS, SRHS name new head football coaches

PMHS, SRHS name new head football coaches
Posted on 03/26/2019
This is the image for the news article titled PMHS, SRHS name new head football coachesBy: Jade Wise
Pasadena ISD Communications



James Crocker and Demond Stafford were recently named the new Pasadena Memorial and Sam Rayburn campus athletic coordinators and head football coaches, respectively, during the March Pasadena ISD Board Meeting.

Crocker will take over the Maverick athletic program following the retirement of longtime Head Coach Chris Quillian. 

“I’m very excited for the opportunity to come in and take the leadership role for Pasadena Memorial student athletes,” said Crocker. “I plan to bring a lot of energy and motivation to the program by fostering relationships and continuing to build upon past successes.”

With over 19 years of coaching experience, Crocker has made stops at Industrial High School, Truman Middle School, Hamshire-Fannett, Friendswood, Danbury and Manvel high schools.

Crocker most recently served as the defensive coordinator and assistant varsity baseball coach for the past seven years at Friendswood High School, where he also coached from 2005-2009. 

A graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University, Class of ‘99, Crocker went on to earn his master’s degree in Education Administration in 2009.

“First and foremost, we are excited that Coach Crocker is an educator at heart and that he can bring that element of teaching and learning to our student athletes,” said Pasadena Memorial Principal Jeremy Richardson. “He comes from a very successful football program that advanced to the third round of playoffs in three of the last six years. We are looking forward to what he brings not only in the development and growth of our young men, but also to success on the football field.”

Sam Rayburn High School’s new head coach, Demond Stafford, will take over the Texans athletic program following the stepping down of Head Coach Shaun Wynn.

“I’m very thankful for this opportunity and I look forward to showing the Sam Rayburn administration the same confidence that they showed to me,” said Stafford. “I hope to bring a fresh energy and excitement to the Texans football program that the students can feed off of and get behind.”

The Texans didn’t have to travel far to find their new coach, poaching Stafford from Pasadena Memorial High School, where he spent the last six years as an assistant football coach and track coach.

Stafford is a veteran coach with over 18 years of experience on his resume with stops at Angleton, Willis, Dobie and Stafford high schools.  

In 2000, Stafford graduated from the University of Texas – El Paso with his bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology.

“Some of the qualities that immediately stood out to me with Coach Stafford was his love for students, his ability to build relationships and a passion to teach and grow students, not only as athletes but as people,” said Sam Rayburn Principal Vanessa Reyes. “With his unique energy and passion, I believe that he’s not only going to build up the football program, but all of Sam Rayburn athletics and help students get college, career and world ready.”


New Coaches
(L to R): Jeremy Richardson, PMHS Principal; James Crocker, PMHS Head Football Coach; Rupert Jaso, PISD Athletic Director; Demond Stafford; SRHS Head Football Coach; Vanessa Reyes; SRHS Principal