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RANKINGS
THE KAY EFFECT: Former North Shore Coach Talks New Gig, Changing Landscape In College Football
When you think of North Shore High School, the names most synonomous with the nationally-recorgnized program are coach David Aymond and coach Jon Kay.
David Aymond built a powerhouse on Houston’s east side from the ground up, leading the Mustangs to a state title in 2003. After an illustrious career, he handed the reins to his longtime associate head coach and defensive coordinator, Jon Kay, who had studied the art of high school football under his mentor.
Kay didn’t just continue the legacy—he elevated it. Under his leadership, North Shore became a national powerhouse, winning four state championships.
Then came the move that shook the Texas football landscape—Kay accepted a linebackers coaching position at Rice University under head coach Mike Bloomgren. But as fate would have it, Bloomgren was let go, and the Owls brought in new head coach Scott Abell, who quickly promoted Kay to defensive coordinator.
VYPE’s Chief Content Officer, Matt Malatesta, sat down with Jon Kay inside the VYPE studios to discuss Texas high school and college football, his journey from Michigan to Texas, and his thoughts on the ever-changing landscape of the transfer portal and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL).
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Barbers Hill back in the State Final Four
RING SEASON: Barbers Hill, Harris back to chasing titles
Barbers Hill head coach Bryan Harris already has a state championship ring—but he had a feeling he was going to get one 11 years ago while coaching at Manvel High.
This Year Feels Different
“We knew we were going to State that year,” Harris laughed. “We had one of the best players in the country in Brianna Turner (Notre Dame national champion, WNBA). We were supposed to win it.
“This year, we’ve had to battle for everything. This is a true team—one where we have to hang our hat on defense, out-scheme people, and just play hard. Getting here and possibly playing on Saturday… it’s been a special year.”
Road to the Championship
Barbers Hill (32-7) will take on Liberty Hill (35-4) in the State Semifinals on Tuesday at College Station High School at 7 PM, with a trip to the UIL State Final at the Alamodome in San Antonio on the line.
“I knew we were going to be solid, but I didn’t expect Brooklynn Roberson to have this big of a year,” Harris admitted. “Jayci Lackey and Rachel Glynn have also stepped up in key moments.
“Brooklynn is a poised and controlled point guard who can knock down big shots. Jayci has a great basketball IQ, and Rachel is just solid in the post.”
Tough Test Against Liberty Hill
The Eagles will need to be at their best to take down Liberty Hill.
“They are so well-coached,” Harris said of the Panthers. “They’re running some two- and three-tier college-level sets. It’s going to be a low-scoring game, and we can’t afford many mistakes. We’ll need to use our length and athleticism.”
X-Factor: Coach Bryan Harris
Barbers Hill’s secret weapon? It might just be Bryan Harris himself. With over 600 career wins and two state titles(one in Indiana), he’s one of the top coaches in the country.
“This would be the icing on the cake,” he said.