Faith’s Players Keep Him Coming Back

Denney Faith just finished his 36th season as head coach at Albany and knew the question was coming.

He had a chance to ride off into the sunset as a champion after winning his first state title in 2022, but came back and won it again. Now the same question lingers: Will he return for season 37?

“I knew somebody would ask. I knew it was coming. No comment,” Faith said with a smile.

But if you listen to the rest of the press conference and the things Faith has said over the years, it feels like you’ll have to drag him out of his office at Albany to get him to retire.

“He’s the greatest coach I’ve ever played for and is probably going to be the greatest coach I’ve played for,” said Texas Tech-bound Adam Hill. Joey McGuire, a high school coaching legend in his own right, will take no offense to that statement, I’m sure.

“He taught me more about how to be a man than a football player,” added Albany senior Zane Waggoner, the Defensive MVP of the 2A Division II state championship game.

“That’s why I coach,” said Faith. “I don’t coach to win football games. I coach to hear guys say that kind of stuff. That’s what really matters. In the big picture, these guys are going to grow up to be great husbands and fathers, and if I just have a little bit to do with that, that’s why I do it. That’s the reason to keep doing it. Those of you that want to know, if I think I can have that kind of influence on somebody, if I’m not coaching, I’m going to find some way to be doing that.”

Faith got state title numbers one and two after coming up short in four state title games before. He absolutely wanted to win it all, but doing what he was doing for Albany football players and the community kept him coming back.

“I love state championships. I love rings. I love the medal, but more than that, I love these guys. As good as that other stuff is, the important stuff is maybe helping a guy become a better father someday,” Faith said.

Faith is now at 360 career wins, the fifth-most in the history of Texas high school football. He only trails Phil Danaher (490 wins), Randy Allen (446), G.A. Moore (426) and Gordon Wood (394).

If he decides to come back for another season, you can bet it won’t be because he’s trying to climb this list; it will be because he feels that he has more to give to his players.