Three decades after wearing Eagle football uniform, Haire will lead the football program here

“I am proud of being from Salado,” Alan Haire said. “I am proud of playing Eagle Football and I want the kids to feel the same way.”

Almost 30 years after graduating from Salado, Haire will return to be the Head Football Coach of the Eagles.

Salado ISD Trustees met in special session Jan. 20 to formally offer the position to Haire, who was selected from a pool of more than 100 job applicants. The pool of applicants was narrowed to a round of 12 for interviews. Then there were three. And then two.

And then there was Alan, the choice of the selection committee and the recommendation of Superintendent Michael Novotny to trustees last night.

Haire returns to Salado from Stephenville, where he has been the Athletic Director of a program that has boasted five state championships in football, most recently in 2012 in 3A, Div. I, as well as a 2003 state champ volleyball team.

For a very short stint, he was head football coach and director of football operations at Mabank High School prior to going to Stephenville in March 2015.

Haire was the Head Football Coach and Athletic Director for the Lago Vista Vikings for 13 seasons. He took over a fledgling young football program in a tough central Texas district.

Haire’ Vikings were the Class 2A, Div. State Semi-finalists in 2010, with a 13-1 record, Regional Finalists in 2011 with a 10-2 record and again in 2012 with a 9-4 record. The Vikings had three straight district championships in football in 2009-2011.

Haire was named the 2A Coach of the Year by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine for 2010.

He also earned Coach of the Year nods at the District level in 2009-2011.

A 1988 graduate of Salado, he played football at Tarleton State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in 1993 and a Master of Education in 1994.

After a year at the tiny Morgan Mill ISD, he came to Salado, coaching for the Eagles from 1994 to 2000. The Eagles went to the playoffs five times and were bi-district champions three times.

Haire was the Offensive Coordinator here in Salado.

He was also the head boys basketball coach, where the Eagles won their first district championship in 15 years.

He was the first coach of the Salado Eaglers softball team and won two bi-district championships.

He was an assistant baseball coach of the Regional Finalist Eagles baseball team in 1995.

He and his wife Angie were married in 1995. They are parents to three children.

Bailey will graduate high school this year.

Her younger brother Hayden will be a junior when the Haires return to Salado.

“He better,” Alan said of whether his son will play football. “If he wants to live under my roof,” he added with a laugh.

Hutton is the youngest and will be in seventh grade next year.

“We’re not so much in the football business,” Haire says of coaching, “as we are in the kid business.”

“Those playing days will come and go,” he adds, “but the lessons learned by being a part of a team will stick with you for life.”