October 3, 2024
Kilgore High School head soccer coach Hector Peralez (far left) looks on during the team’s game against Boerne in the UIL Class 4A State Semifinals at Birkelbach Stadium in Georgetown in April. (Photo by MITCH LUCAS – ETBLITZ.COM)

Growing up in Kilgore and graduating from Kilgore High School in 2013, I always felt a deep connection to my hometown. My journey has been full of unexpected turns, from pursuing a degree in Chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin to becoming a dedicated coach and teacher back in Kilgore.

After earning my Chemistry degree in 2017, I initially aimed to enter the medical field. I worked as a medical scribe for a year, but quickly realized that the monotony of shadowing doctors wasn’t for me. I needed a change. I knew I was missing something in life, and it was sports.

In 2018, I applied to several positions and was offered a unique opportunity at Pine Tree High School. The role allowed me to teach Chemistry at the high school level, coach football at the middle school, and coach soccer at the high school.

Kerry Lane, the head coach at Pine Tree, recognized my talent and experience as a safety from when he was the quarterbacks coach at Gilmer and insisted on bringing me on staff. He said that the game plan was to not throw in my direction, but I inevitably found the ball and got an interception in our game for the district championship in 2012. 

A former multi-sport athlete at Kilgore himself, Hector Peralez guided the Bulldogs' soccer team to a regional championship and then the state tournament in his first season as head coach, and also coached Luciano Brizuela to the UIL Cross Country State Meet last fall. (Photo by COURTNEY ALLEN PHOTOGRAPHY)
A former multi-sport athlete at Kilgore himself, Hector Peralez guided the Bulldogs’ soccer team to a regional championship and then the state tournament in his first season as head coach, and also coached Luciano Brizuela to the UIL Cross Country State Meet last fall. (Photo by COURTNEY ALLEN PHOTOGRAPHY)

During my first year of coaching, a memorable encounter occurred during a soccer playoff game against Mount Pleasant in Pittsburg. Kilgore was playing Pleasant Grove just before our match. After Kilgore’s victory, coach Tom Wait approached me with an invitation to return to Kilgore. Despite the enticing offer, I felt I needed more experience before coming back home.

My second year at Pine Tree saw me transition to a varsity assistant coach, where I coached outside linebackers. Kerry Lane and head soccer coach Angel Rocha taught me invaluable lessons about running a program and setting standards. Unfortunately, our soccer season was cut short due to COVID-19, but the experience only strengthened my resolve.

In my third year, the arrival of Laycen as the Director of Precision at Pine Tree marked a significant personal and professional milestone. I loved working at the same high school as her. We had lunch together. I would see her Friday nights, and we had a lot of fun together. Additionally, our new defensive coordinator Jacob Holder made me the safeties coach, teaching me strategic insights about numerical advantages in the game.

This year, Coach Wait once again approached me, and this time I felt ready to return to Kilgore. It was a very tough decision to make, since Laycen had just got to Pine Tree with me.

In 2021, I came back to Kilgore High School, bringing my expertise to teach Chemistry, coach freshman football and kickers, and coach soccer. My efforts did not go unnoticed, as I was honored as the 4A Region II Texas Association of Soccer Coaches (TASCO) Assistant Coach of the Year in both 2022 and 2023 under Coach Wait. Coach Wait pushed me as a coach harder than I had been pushed in my past job. 

By the end of my fifth year of coaching, I had completed prerequisites for nursing school and was accepted into Tyler Junior College nursing school, contemplating a career change. However, with Coach Wait’s impending retirement, I felt a strong sense of responsibility to the program.

After thoughtful discussions with Laycen and (former Kilgore High School soccer head boys coach) Aaron Erickson, I decided to stay in coaching, dedicating myself to the students and athletes of Kilgore. It also helped that Laycen was named the Director of the Kilgore Hi-Steppers.

Erickson helped me a lot this year in my first year as a head coach. I took over the soccer program, but I also took over the cross country program. I was named the 4A Region 2 TASCO Head Soccer Coach of the Year.

I have never been happier. I love following Kilgore football and the Hi-Steppers on Fridays as a fan. 

My journey from a Chemistry student to a dedicated coach underscores my commitment to growth, community, and the impact one can have by returning to their roots. This story is a testament to the power of adaptability and the enduring influence of dedicated mentors and supportive colleagues.

  • Written by Hector Peralez

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