THE GENERALS: Houston's Top 10 trending coaches

THE GENERALS: Houston's Top 10 trending coaches
VYPE

Jon Kay has won two state titles (2015, 2018).

Originally appeared on VYPE

The city of Houston is home to some of the most successful active coaches in Texas high school sports. Even the nation. They win at a high level, develop athletes to go to the next level and instill their values in their students.

These are the top program-builders in the area and have filled the trophy cases of their respective schools.

Here are Houston's Top 10 Trending Coaches.

No. 1 Jon Kay, North Shore, Football

Since taking over the head coaching job at North Shore five years ago, the Detroit-native has won two state titles (2015, 2018). He's been in Galena Park ISD since 1996 and learned under coach David Aymond. Kay is tremendously detail-oriented but gives his assistants room to do their jobs. The 'Stangs are LOADED for 2019 and could reach the state game again. They market their kids and put them in the best position to be successful.


No. 2 Gary Joseph, Katy, Football

On the Mt. Rushmore of Texas High School football, Gary Joseph has four state titles, 14 district titles and 201 wins. He is the fastest to reach 200 wins in state history and has held leadership positions such as being the THSCA president in 2017-18. His father was also a coaching legend at Wharton HS.


No. 3 Juris Green, The Woodlands, Cross-Country

His dad built the Highlander program decades ago, but Juris is taking it to the next level. The Woodlands boys are going for their fifth consecutive Class 6A state title in cross-country. The Highlanders have also won back-to-back state title in track in 2016 and '17. He was the National Coach of the Year in 2017. TWHS has won 21 XC state titles.

Find the rest of the list here

Most Popular

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome

Listen Live

ESPN Houston 97.5 FM
Welcome back, Justin! Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images.

Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander will make his season debut Friday night at the Washington Nationals.

Houston manager Joe Espada made the announcement Wednesday.

“Getting him back is huge because it brings a level of confidence to our team, a boost of confidence that we’re going to get someone who’s been an MVP, a Cy Young (winner) on the mound,” Espada said. “It's (good) for the morale and to get stuff started and moving in the right direction.”

The three-time Cy Young Award winner opened the season on the injured list with inflammation in his right shoulder. He made two rehabilitation starts, the first for Triple-A Sugar Land on April 7 before Saturday’s start for Double-A Corpus Christi.

Espada wouldn't say how many pitches the 41-year-old would be limited to but said they'll keep an eye on his workload.

“We've got to be careful how hard we push him early,” Espada said. “I know he’s going to want to go and stay out there and give us an opportunity to win, but we've got to be cautious of how hard we push him early in the season.”

Verlander wasn’t thrilled with the results in his rehabilitation starts, but he said Monday that those games were valuable in getting him prepared to come off the IL.

He allowed seven hits and six runs — five earned — in four innings against Frisco on Saturday. He struck out three, walked one and threw 51 of 77 pitches for strikes.

Verlander allowed six earned runs and struck out six while pitching into the fourth inning for Sugar Land on April 7.

The Astros have gotten off to a tough start with Verlander and fellow starters Framber Valdez and José Urquidy on the injured list. They enter Wednesday's games last in the AL West with a 6-13 record.

Espada hopes Verlander can be the boost the team needs to get on track.

“It’s good to get him back in the rotation,” Espada said. “With what he means to this club just to get him back on track, getting some innings from him (to) build our rotation with the pieces that we need to move forward is exciting.”

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome