KATY, Texas – As far as Texas high school football goes, few programs are prouder than the Katy Tigers.
Katy High School has been among the top programs in the sport for decades. With nine state titles, 15 title game appearances and 43 total playoff appearances, the Tigers are as battle-tested as they come.
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However, the Tigers have had a drought of glory over the past several seasons. They have not won a state title since 2020, and they lost two games in both 2023 and 2024.
Not many names carry as much weight in Texas high school football as Gary Joseph. Joseph has spent 44 years at Katy High School — the last 22 as head coach. In an interview with KPRC 2’s Michael Horton, he said his mission remains the same: compete for a district championship and make a deep playoff run.
“I expect our kids to be able to compete for a district championship,” Joseph said. “And then I have a great desire to see them make a great playoff run. It’s a tough region, but we’re quite capable of competing at a high level.”
In 2024, the Tigers lost a non-conference road game to Atascocita early in the season, 41-24. They bounced back, going 8-0 in conference, but their season ended in the third round of the playoffs, falling to North Shore, 42-28.
The Tigers are expected to be right back in the title hunt in 2025. Dave Campbell’s Texas Football has them ranked as the No. 8 team in the 6A division, and the No. 2 team in the Houston area (North Shore is ranked No. 5).
Despite the hype, Joseph said the ever-evolving landscape of high school football in Texas keeps everyone on their toes.
“There’s nothing that ever comes easy in this game,” he said. “As soon as you think you’ve got it figured out, things change. Every week, we have to stay focused.”
Joseph highlighted several standouts poised to play major roles for the Tigers this season. He mentioned senior running back Tremayne Hill, who has rushed for 1,500 yards in each of the last two seasons. He also brought up cornerback Isaiah McMillan — a University of Kentucky commit — and linebacker Jeremiah Smith, a three-year starter.
Despite the new realities of transfers and recruiting in the NIL era, Joseph said he hopes the spirit of high school football remains intact, keeping the focus on the community.
“You hope the game of high school football never changes,” he said. “It’s always been a community-based thing where people get out and support their kids. With all the transfers and everything else, it’s working its way away from that. High school football needs to stay the way it’s been, governed by communities and families.”
As Katy prepares to kick off the new season full of unique challenges on and off the field, the coach’s message to his players is consistent: play for each other and uphold the proud tradition of Katy Tiger football.
“We’ve always taught our kids to be unselfish,” he said. “Football is probably the ultimate team game, and no matter how good you are, you’re not going to be successful without great teammates.”
The Tigers will open the season on Aug. 30, with a home game against Dickinson.