Photos courtesy of Aledo Independent School District
By Nolan Ruth
X – @RealNolanRuth
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FORT WORTH— In a stunning announcement, Southwest Christian School announced the hiring of its new head football coach, three-time UIL state champion Steve Wood.
The hiring process, which took many months of negotiation, came to a conclusion on Wednesday and was officially announced by the school with a statement on Thursday morning.
“We are very excited about the job with Southwest Christian,” Wood said in a written statement to GM Sports Media. “I realized how much I missed coaching and the great people at SCS are going to give us the opportunity to fix that!”
The SCS Eagles program saw a tough season in 2025 with a 5-5 record, including a loss to state champion Fort Worth All Saints 58-22 in November, before ultimately falling to Austin Regents in the first round, 62-2.
Looking to move the program in a different direction, SCS reached out to Wood just after the season ended. Since Wood retired from his position as athletic director at Aledo in 2023, the Eagles collected a combined record of 16-17, well below the eight-ball in TAPPS Division II.
After two years out of high school sports, Wood took an assistant job under Cody Worrell at Mineral Wells High School. With the help of his experience and leadership, the Rams went 4-7 this season with just enough to reach the first round in UIL 4A-Division II where they fell to the Glen Rose Tigers, 48-34.
Prior to his role in Mineral Wells, Wood coached for the UIL’s perennial power Aledo Bearcats. After nearly two decades as an assistant to Hall of Fame head coach Tim Buchanan, Wood took over head coaching duties in 2014, before swapping positions with Buchanan and becoming the athletic director in 2019, where he remained until the spring of 2023.
In his five years at the helm of Aledo, Wood amassed a record of 75-4, reaching the state semifinals every season, the state championship four out of the five, and winning three titles in ‘14, ‘16 and ‘18.
“When you tie Steve’s coaching ability and his faith together,” longtime partner and eight time state champion head coach Tim Buchanan commented. “Those things make him the perfect coach for Southwest Christian School.”
Buchanan was not the only former staff-mate of Wood to speak on Wood’s behalf.
“Steve Wood is the most attention to detail coach I ever worked with,” current Brock head coach and Wood’s defensive coordinator at Aledo, Billy Mathis said. “He can remember plays a team ran five years ago and we would work on them just in case…his greatest gift is the way he makes coaches and players feel like they are the most important people in the room…I thank God I have him as a coaching mentor and friend.”
Even former players were willing to chime in about Wood in his new role and their belief in him as a coach.
“Coach Wood is the best to do it,” famed Aledo running-back Johnathan Gray mentioned. “He has always been a great leader. He should be well respected in his lifetime.”
“Coach Wood was always one of those coaches who pushed his players hard,” former Aledo running back and coach Austin Stockon said in a written statement. “He never tolerated a lack of effort. He was one of those coaches who you’d fight every day just for his approval…I’m thankful for all the lessons he taught me as both a player and a coach.”
“I was fortunate enough to have Coach Wood become more than someone leading practices,” 2014 state championship defensive MVP Larry Brown wrote. “He became a defining influence in my life. He pushed me to work harder than I thought I could every day, and believed in my potential long before I believed it myself… The lessons he taught me about discipline, resilience and character still guide me today. Never go palms up to this man, or you’re blowing chunks. You learn that fast. I am grateful not only for the athlete he helped me become, but for the person he helped shape along the way. And I’m glad I had someone like him delivering a little country charm and keeping me in check to help me strive to be the best version of myself.”
“Wood made a lasting impact on my life both on and off the field,” former Aledo and TCU defensive end Colt Ellison said. “He taught the importance of discipline, accountability, and pushing myself even when things were difficult. His expectations were high because he believed in every one of us… Looking back, I can see how much his guidance shaped my work ethic, my confidence, and the way I face challenges today. I’m grateful for the lessons he passed on about teamwork, resilience and character. I carry those lessons with me wherever I go. Southwest Christian got a good one.”
Finally, an Aledo family dynasty weighed in on the move, with all three of them spending at least some time for the TCU Horned Frogs. Hunter and Wes Harris were both Division I linemen for Aledo. In the fall of 2013, a sophomore Hunter and a freshman Wes helped make up “The Filthy Five.” The youngest brother, Wyatt, came just a couple years later at linebacker and spent his entire college career with the Horned Frogs.
“Coach Wood is an exceptional ball coach,” the eldest brother Hunter commented. “On top of that, he’s a great leader and mentor. He told us he loved us every day, and we all knew that he meant it. He helped us become the best football players we could be, but he also helped mold us into great men. He took over during a time of uncertainty at Aledo, and we did not skip a beat. He pushed us harder than anyone in the state because he believed in what we could be… I could not be happier for the kids at SCS to experience him as their leader. It will be a big change, but when they buy in, they will be tough to beat.”
“Wood is the true definition of a player’s coach,” 2017 Aledo grad and former TCU lineman Wes Harris stated. “He cares for us players as much as he does the game. I’ll never forget the memories we made and shared with him and I’m grateful for every minute of it. I could not be happier for him and the kids at SCS.”
“Coach Wood is one of the best coaches I’ve ever had the privilege of playing for,” youngest of the Harris men Wyatt said in a written statement. “He’s a true player’s coach and his men love going to battle for him. He instills confidence in his players, and in return they give him everything they have…He doesn’t just coach football—he coaches life. The lessons he teaches go far beyond the white lines…That’s why so many former players respect him—not just for the coach he is, but for the person he is.”
