SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Texas Lutheran University introduced Danny Padron as its new head football coach at a press conference Monday in San Antonio.
Padron, 57, is the 20th head football coach in school history. His time as TLU head coach officially starts today.
Padron succeeds Dennis Parker, who stepped down as coach following the 2009 season. The Bulldogs were 0-10 in 2009 and 6-24 in Parker’s three years with the team.
“Coaching at the collegiate level has always been one of my goals, and frankly it is one that I thought I would never realize,” said Padron during Monday’s press conference. “I want to thank the athletic director (Bill Miller) and the selection committee for their persistence, and our president (Ann Svennungsen) for her persuasiveness to encourage me to apply and to go through the interview process.”
“Because by going through that process, I discovered a sense of community from within the Texas Lutheran staff, one that really appealed to me. And I share their common vision and embrace their mission of making a difference in the lives of the young people with whom they work. Their supportive and nurturing ways reflect the family values that are so important to me.”
Padron confirmed that his son Andy, an assistant football coach at O’Connor and former collegiate quarterback at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, would be joining him at TLU. After the formal portion of the press conference, held in Pearl Studio at the Historic Pearl Brewery, Coach Padron also acknowledged the hiring of Cuero High School head football coach Mark Reeve.
“We’re all very excited about the challenges that lie ahead, and we’re ready to go to work,” said Padron. “And although there are no guarantees of success, we will guarantee that we will be one of the best conditioned and best prepared teams in the conference, a team that the university and the Seguin community can be proud of – on and off the field.
TLU President Ann Svennungsen and Director of Athletics Bill Miller each took part in introducing Padron on Monday.
“We are thrilled to have Danny Padron as our new head football coach,” said Miller. “I’ve worked professionally with Coach Padron and have considered him a good friend for many years. He brings our program instant credibility, particularly among Texas high school football coaches who know him and know of his involvement with the Texas High School Coaches Association.”
“Coach Padron is a winner, and he has always done things the right way. We look forward to working hand-in-hand with him as together we meet the challenges of returning Bulldog Football to a respected program.”
Padron recently completed his eighth season as the head football coach and athletic coordinator at San Antonio’s Sandra Day O’Connor High School. Padron was 65-30 overall as the head coach at O’Connor. He was the 2003 San Antonio Express-News “San Antonio Area Coach of the Year.”
In 2003, Padron led O’Connor to the Class 5A state quarterfinal round. He coached O’Connor to the 2004 and 2005 regional finals and to the 2006 and 2007 area finals. The Panthers were district champions in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007.
“We are very disappointed that Coach Padron is leaving O’Connor, but we certainly understand,” said Dr. John Folks, superintendent of Northside Independent School District. “It is a great opportunity, and we wish him the best.”
“Coach Padron is a great football coach, but more importantly he is a man of great integrity. He teaches kids about much more than football. He is in the business of developing good young men. I don’t think TLU could have found a better individual to lead their football program, and not only to lead their football program but also to set the right example for the young men that are in the football program.”
Padron has coached for 38 years, all in the San Antonio area. He and his fellow coaches have been in the state high school playoffs almost every year since 1982. Padron has been on coaching staffs that have combined to produce two state champions, a state finalist, two state semifinalists, two state quarterfinalists, five regional finalists, seven area finalists, and 17 district champions. The combined overall record of those teams since 1981 is 253-81-3.
In 1981, Padron became the offensive coordinator at San Antonio’s Clark High School and served in that capacity for a total of 16 years (1981-1987 and 1993-2002). Clark was a Class 5A state quarterfinalist in 1994 and a regional finalist in 1995, 1996 and 2001.
In 1995, Padron was named the Fellowship of Christian Athletes “Zebra Chapter” Christian Coach of the Year for the San Antonio area.
Padron was the assistant head coach at Converse Judson High School for the 1992 season and a first assistant/QB coach at Converse Judson from 1988 to 1991. In 1988 and 1992, Converse Judson won Class 5A State Championships. The Rockets were the 1990 Class 5A state runner-up and Class 5A state semifinalists in 1989 and 1991.
Padron coached under Head Coach D.W. Rutledge and with TLU AD Bill Miller while at Converse Judson. Miller was an assistant football coach and head baseball coach at Converse Judson. Rutledge and Miller each played football at TLU and won NAIA-II National Championships in football with the Bulldogs’ Hall of Fame head coach Jim Wacker. Rutledge was an All-American linebacker on the 1974 championship squad, and Miller was a cornerback on the 1974 and 1975 championship teams.
Padron has served on the Texas High School Coaches Association Football Advisory Committee and on the Texas High School Coaches Association Board of Directors. Rutledge is the current executive director of the Texas High School Coaches Association.
-Courtesy Texas Lutheran University Sports Information Department
Danny Padron Quick Facts
Education
-Master’s Degree in Education, 1983, University of Texas at San Antonio
-Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics (minor in Physical Education), 1973,
-Our Lady of the Lake University
-High School diploma, John Jay High School, San Antonio (graduated 4th in his class)
Coaching Experience (38 years, all in San Antonio area)
-Head Coach Sandra Day O’Connor High School, San Antonio, 2002-Jan. 2010
-First Assistant/Offensive Coordinator, Tom Clark High School, San Antonio, 1993-2002
-Assistant Head Coach/QB Coach, Judson High School, Converse, 1992-1993
-First Assistant/QB Coach, Judson High School, Converse, 1988-1991
-First Assistant/Offensive Coordinator, Tom Clark High School, San Antonio, 1981-1987
-Head Baseball Coach, Tom Clark High School, San Antonio, 1978-1981
-Varsity Assistant Coach/Offensive Coordinator, Alamo Heights High School, San Antonio, 1976-1978
-Head Baseball Coach, Alamo Heights High School, San Antonio, 1976-1978
-Head Football Coach, St. Gerard High School, San Antonio, 1975
-Offensive Coordinator, St. Gerard High School, San Antonio, 1972-1974
-Head Baseball Coach, St. Gerard High School, San Antonio, 1972-1974
Coaching Highlights
- Overall coaching record at O’Connor: 65-30
- Seven straight state playoff berths at O’Connor
- District Champions in four of eight seasons at O’Connor
- 2003 Class 5A State Quarterfinals at O’Connor
- 2004 & 2005 Regional Finals at O’Connor
- 2006, 2007, & 2008 Area Finals at O’Connor
- 2009 Bi-District Finals at O’Connor
- 2003 San Antonio Express-News “San Antonio Area Coach of the Year”
- 2004 Coach for U.S. Army All-American Bowl
- San Antonio Clark Offensive Coordinator for 16 years
- Former Assistant Head Coach at Converse Judson
- Coached on two Class 5A State Championship coaching staffs (both at Converse Judson)
- Member of coaching staffs that have produced 253-81-3 record
- 1995 Christian Coach of the Year for San Antonio Area, as selected by Fellowship of Christian Athletes “Zebra Chapter”
- Texas High School Coaches Association Football Advisory Committee
- Served on Texas High School Coaches Association Board of Directors
Personal
- Wife, Cindee, of 34 years
- Couple has one son, Andy, who is a coach at O’Connor and former starting QB at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
- Lector and Eucharistic minister at St. Matthew Catholic Church in San Antonio, as well as active member of the ACTS community