Coach Todd Rodgers

Argyle football coach and athletic director Todd Rodgers have been on the sidelines for so long that he doesn’t experience many firsts anymore. Since taking over at Argyle in 2003, Rodgers has cobbled together a decorated career that includes two state titles, over 200 wins, countless individual and team honors, and an athletic program that has helped pave the way to 12 Lone Star Cups thus far.

But when DFW Inside High School Sports named Rodgers its 2022 Coach of the Year in December after a run to the Class 5A Division II state semifinals, he earned the one accolade he’d yet to attain until now — his very own bobblehead.

“I think it’s unique,” Rodgers said. The bobblehead is of Rodgers in a red Eagles shirt with a football tucked under his right arm. “The fact is there’s a lot of people who played into me winning it. We have a lot of good coaches and players who contributed to that type of award; I get the recognition, but it’s fun for our program to get that recognition.”

So, where does a veteran coach display such an award? Rodgers told our team at Argyle Living that it’s in his living room, safely stowed in its designated little nook with various other knick knacks.

He even joked that his three grandkids probably have more fun with it than he does, often asking grandpa to make the head bob.

“They’ll ask me on FaceTime, and they get a good belly laugh from seeing their grandfather bobble the head,” he said. “The little one is just a year old, so I don’t know if she gets as much joy out of it as the 3 and 4-year-old. But they like it.”

It’s an honor Rodgers won’t forget. In 2022, Argyle’s athletic program jumped from Class 4A to Class 5A. For many schools, a jump in classification invites tougher slating against the bigger and more experienced competition. But the transition didn’t phase Argyle.

The football team finished 14-1, losing to Dallas South Oak Cliff in the state semifinals. South Oak Cliff went on to win the state title.

It was Argyle’s deepest playoff run since winning its second state title to cap the 2020 season.

“I spoke to several coaches in 5A, and they all reassured me that we’d be fine. They didn’t tell me we’d end up dominating by any stretch of the imagination, but they said it was just a matter of getting your team ready,” Rodgers said. “We had a strong group — a solid senior class that achieved very high levels. Many of those seniors also had varsity experience since entering high school, which subsequently helped them make some really good decisions for us this year.

“The transition to 5A was a big deal for us, and our kids were hyper-focused on that transition.”

As for the future, it’s difficult to bet against the Eagles. It is the third time successfully advancing in classification and faring well. Time will tell if the same will be said for their move to 5A.

But if 2022 was any indication, they’re off to a great start.