Spring High's football program enters 2026 with 15 returning starters and a new head coach tasked with reversing four straight losing seasons. The Lions are projected fifth in District 14-6A, according to VYPE Houston's preseason preview published Aug. 13, just outside the four projected playoff spots.
First-year head coach KaRon Coleman, hired in February from Hightower, inherits a defense that could carry the Lions back into contention. Defensive linemen Chase Lewis and Kelvin Sumo anchor the front, while defensive backs Kevunn Lauderdale and Landon McLenon bring experience and playmaking to the secondary.
That defensive core is the reason for optimism in a district dominated by Westfield, which is chasing its sixth consecutive district title under coach Desmar Black. Davis and Nimitz, which both went 6-1 in league play to share the 2025 district crown with Westfield, are projected second and third. Eisenhower is projected fourth.
Black told VYPE his own squad's defense is the backbone of another title run.
"We just need to put the ball in the end zone and not turn the ball over," Black said. "Our defense returns everyone."
Westfield's roster is loaded with college commits, including Arizona-bound linebacker Davon Smith, the district's preseason MVP.
Offense built around the run
Coleman made his name as an offensive coordinator at Hightower, where his unit averaged 41.9 points per game in 2025 and produced district MVP quarterback Khylan Davis. At Spring, he'll lean on running back Vincent Lee behind an experienced offensive line led by Elijah Guidry and Malyron Gamble.
On the perimeter, Kamdyn Shepherd, Zach Clayburne and Bralon Sample give the Lions athleticism at the skill positions. No starting quarterback has been publicly named.
Coleman, an Elkins graduate who played running back at Stephen F. Austin before a brief NFL stint, replaced Freddie Strange after Strange went 2-8 in his lone season in 2025, according to the Houston Chronicle. Spring last won a district title in 2020 and has gone 66-43 over the past decade with eight playoff appearances.
As we reported Aug. 13, the Coleman era represents a reset for a program that still carries recent playoff pedigree despite the slide.
Schedule ahead
The Lions open the season Friday, Sept. 4, at 7 p.m. against the Waller Bulldogs at Planet Ford Stadium. A home game against Cypress Lakes follows Saturday, Sept. 12. The first district test comes Oct. 2 when Westfield visits Planet Ford Stadium.
