Meet your 24-25 THSCA President: John Snelson - Dickinson HS

Coach Snelson, who/what most influenced your decision to become a coach?

My mother. She was a 42-year teacher, a 35-year coach, so growing up with her, just seeing how she treated all of her athletes and how all of her athletes treated her, and just her day-to-day operation convinced me from a very young age that I was going to be a coach. She was the head volleyball coach and assistant basketball coach at South Houston HS.

What piece of advice would you offer a young coach?

Number one I would say is, "Bloom where you are planted." Lots of us whenever we were young we're so busy looking for the next job for the next opportunity, that we didn’t take the time to do the best job that we could right where we were. So I would say, "Bloom where you are planted."

How do you explain the importance of being involved in THSCA?

THSCA is the largest coaches association in the world really. You know, the THSCA is going to educate you, they’re going to celebrate you, and they’re going to advocate for you. Many of us have heard, "it’s not what you know, it’s who you know"; but actually, "It’s who knows you!" You want to get involved in this coaches association so you can get educated, advocated for, celebrated, and get to know very important people; and they can get to know you.

What legacy do you hope your student-athletes take away from your program and their time with you?

I hope my student athletes would take away the four pillars of our program: attitude, effort, toughness, and trust. Attitude and effort are things that we choose every single day. Toughness and trust are things that we have to work for. You know, toughness comes from struggle, and so being a part of a athletic program there’s gonna be times where you’re going to have to struggle mentally and physically. Anytime that there’s change, it’s not comfortable; but you are always gonna come out better on the other side. Trust takes time. People have to see you more than they hear you. So I would say that is the foundation of our program that I would want them to inherit.

Who has been your biggest supporter throughout your coaching career?

That'd be my wife! There is a special place in heaven for coaches' spouses. You know, just keeping the home fires burning, raising your kids while you’re out helping raise everyone else’s kids. You know, they are hearing all the negative things, but just always being as positive and supportive as they can be; that would definitely be my wife, Mandy.

What have you learned about THSCA in your time serving on the board and as President?

I think mostly how big that our footprint is nationwide. Whenever we go to the AFCA convention or to the NFF awards or any other national event, whenever people find out that we are from Texas and with the THSCA, they’re like, "Man, I wish we could get our association like that. I wish we could get organized and do all of the positive things that you guys are doing."

What does it mean to you to serve as President of THSCA?

It’s one of the biggest honors of my life. Whenever you’re voted to be the president, the face of the organization, the top advocate, by your peers, people that you respect so much; it's just a tremendous honor, and I am very very humbled by it.

Read the entire January 2025 Issue of Texas Coach here: https://issuu.com/thscacoaches/docs/jan25upload?fr=xKAE9_zU1NQ