Allen Wilson (American football)
Encyclopedia
Allen Wilson is an American football
coach. A highly successful high school
coach, Wilson won two Texas state championships (1988, 1994) and amassed a 213-74-3 record. His teams are known for their smash-mouth running game.
Wilson is a 1970 graduate of Robert E. Lee High School in Midland
, Texas
. He went on to play defensive back
under coach Wally Bullington
at Abilene Christian University
in Abilene
, Texas, where he was part of the 1973 football team which won the NAIA National Football Championship
and Lone Star Conference
title.
After serving as a graduate assistant at Abilene Christian, Wilson became head coach at Paris High School
in Paris, Texas
. He guided them to the 4A state championship in 1988, with a 31-13 win over West Orange-Stark
. Two years later, Wilson went on to coach at 5A John Tyler High School
in Tyler, Texas
.
Wilson brought a new attitude to the J.T. Lions, and popularized “Cujo”, John Tyler’s playoff persona. Under Wilson, JT began wearing jersey's with "Cujo" inscribed on the front in the playoffs only. Prior to Wilson's arrival, the term "Cujo" was reserved for the defense under former coach Carlous Stone.
Wilson revived a storied program that won two state championships (1930, 1973), but went a mediocre 22-27-2 over the previous five years. In 1994, John Tyler High went 16-0 and won the 5A Division II state championship with a 35-24 win over Austin Westlake. That season included a legendary regional semifinal game
against Plano East Senior High School
which is considered to be the best high school football game in history. In 2000, the Lions made another finals appearance but lost 20-35 to Katy
.
In 2002, Wilson took over as head coach of the tradition-rich Dallas Carter
Cowboys football program. In 2003, Dallas Carter lost in the Regionals to the Leander Lions. In 2006, Wilson's Carter team eliminated his old school, John Tyler, from the playoffs in only the Lions' second game wearing "Cujo" jerseys since the 2000 season.
Wilson is a member of the Abilene Christian Athletic Hall of Fame.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach. A highly successful high school
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
coach, Wilson won two Texas state championships (1988, 1994) and amassed a 213-74-3 record. His teams are known for their smash-mouth running game.
Wilson is a 1970 graduate of Robert E. Lee High School in Midland
Midland, Texas
Midland is a city in and the county seat of Midland County, Texas, United States, on the Southern Plains of the state's western area. A small portion of the city extends into Martin County. As of 2010, the population of Midland was 111,147. It is the principal city of the Midland, Texas...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. He went on to play defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
under coach Wally Bullington
Wally Bullington
Wally "Coach Bully" Bullington is a former American football player, coach, and sports figure from the state of Texas. He served Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas for 39 years as football player, assistant football coach, head football coach and athletic director before he retired...
at Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University is a private university located in Abilene, Texas, affiliated with Churches of Christ. ACU was founded in 1906, as Childers Classical Institute...
in Abilene
Abilene, Texas
Abilene is a city in Taylor and Jones counties in west central Texas. The population was 117,063 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 158,063. It is the county seat of Taylor County...
, Texas, where he was part of the 1973 football team which won the NAIA National Football Championship
NAIA national football championship
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Football National Championship is decided by a post-season playoff system featuring the best NAIA college football teams in the United States. Under sponsorship of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, the championship game has...
and Lone Star Conference
Lone Star Conference
The Lone Star Conference is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II. Member institutions are located in the southwestern United States, with schools in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico...
title.
After serving as a graduate assistant at Abilene Christian, Wilson became head coach at Paris High School
Paris Independent School District
Paris Independent School District is a public school district based in Paris, Texas . It is a 3A school, and is the largest in Lamar County, with an enrollment of almost 1,500 students....
in Paris, Texas
Paris, Texas
Paris, Texas is a city located northeast of the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex in Lamar County, Texas, in the United States. It is situated in Northeast Texas at the western edge of the Piney Woods. Physiographically, these regions are part of the West Gulf Coastal Plain. In 1900, 9,358 people lived...
. He guided them to the 4A state championship in 1988, with a 31-13 win over West Orange-Stark
West Orange-Cove Consolidated Independent School District
The West Orange-Cove Consolidated Independent School District is a public school district in Orange County, Texas .The district serves the cities of West Orange and Pinehurst as well as portions of Orange, including the majority of Orange below I-10, and the Old Peveto area...
. Two years later, Wilson went on to coach at 5A John Tyler High School
John Tyler High School
John Tyler High School is a public, co-educational secondary school in Tyler, Texas. It is part of the Tyler Independent School District and serves 9th through 12th grade...
in Tyler, Texas
Tyler, Texas
Tyler is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, in the United States. It takes its name from President John Tyler . The city had a population of 109,000 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau...
.
Wilson brought a new attitude to the J.T. Lions, and popularized “Cujo”, John Tyler’s playoff persona. Under Wilson, JT began wearing jersey's with "Cujo" inscribed on the front in the playoffs only. Prior to Wilson's arrival, the term "Cujo" was reserved for the defense under former coach Carlous Stone.
Wilson revived a storied program that won two state championships (1930, 1973), but went a mediocre 22-27-2 over the previous five years. In 1994, John Tyler High went 16-0 and won the 5A Division II state championship with a 35-24 win over Austin Westlake. That season included a legendary regional semifinal game
1994 John Tyler vs. Plano East high school football game
On November 26, 1994, in a high school football playoff game in Texas, the Lions of John Tyler High School defeated the Panthers of Plano East Senior High School by the score of 48–44...
against Plano East Senior High School
Plano East Senior High School
Plano East Senior High School is a secondary school in Plano, Texas serving high school juniors and seniors. It is part of the Plano Independent School District....
which is considered to be the best high school football game in history. In 2000, the Lions made another finals appearance but lost 20-35 to Katy
Katy High School
Katy High School is a high school located in Katy, Texas, United States and serves grades 9 through 12. It is a part of the Katy Independent School District...
.
In 2002, Wilson took over as head coach of the tradition-rich Dallas Carter
David W. Carter High School
David Wendel Carter High School is a public school located in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas, Texas . David W. Carter High School, which covers grades 9-12, is a part of the Dallas Independent School District....
Cowboys football program. In 2003, Dallas Carter lost in the Regionals to the Leander Lions. In 2006, Wilson's Carter team eliminated his old school, John Tyler, from the playoffs in only the Lions' second game wearing "Cujo" jerseys since the 2000 season.
Wilson is a member of the Abilene Christian Athletic Hall of Fame.