AUSTIN, Texas — Thursday was UIL realignment day in Texas, where high school athletic programs all across the state learned which districts and classifications they'll play in for the next two years.
Realignment affects each sport, but arguably none more than football. For schools in the Austin area, the number of teams changing districts and classifications was considerable – so much so that even some local coaches expressed surprise at some of the news.
"I thought we'd stay where we were at ... I thought we'd stay with Westlake, Lake Travis in the group," Buda Johnson Head Coach Steve Hoffman said. "When I saw it today, I was surprised."
Johnson was one local school that saw drastic change in its district makeup. Previously, the Jaguars played in 6A District 26, an Austin-based district that included Westlake, Lake Travis, Austin High, Dripping Springs, Akins, Bowie and Del Valle.
After realignment, Johnson will now play in a revamped District 29, which includes San Marcos and several San Antonio area schools and includes perennial powerhouses Cibolo Steele and Converse Judson. Also in that district is San Antonio East Central, Schertz Clemens and Comal Canyon. Johnson will be the northernmost school competing in the district.
Hoffman said that while he knew there was a chance the program could be realigned into a district farther south, he is surprised that the school was classified in District 29 instead of District 27, which ultimately became a district entirely made up of high schools located in northern San Antonio.
Ultimately, though, Hoffman said he did expect to stay in the same district.
"I thought there was a small chance," Hoffman said, before alluding to more 6A teams coming from the Rio Grande Valley than expected.
Hoffman said despite the district change, he thinks the only impact he sees it having on the team is travel.
"Both districts are good, with Westlake, Lake Travis. And in the last couple of years, Dripping Springs [in District 26] has been really good, too. But you still have Judson and Steele over there, so you have good teams in both districts," Hoffman said. "[But] travel, obviously, with San Marcos being the closest team and then you get into New Braunfels and San Antonio, you know. The traffic is no different than going to Austin. So we'll have to adjust to that."
Other schools in the Austin area that will be in new districts and classifications going into the 2024 season include Hutto, who will now be in 6A District 25, which is mostly made up of teams in Williamson County. District 25 brings in Hutto for Anderson, who will move down to 5A, as will Pflugerville Weiss.
Hutto Head Coach and Athletic Director Brad LaPlante said in a statement that he is excited to join a new district, praising the district's coaches and a schedule which will see the team travel much less than they had prior:
"Hutto joins some familiar opponents in Round Rock, Leander, and Manor ISD Schools. The Hippos will look forward to closer drives in 25-6A compared to the last two years. This is a very competitive district, but I feel the Hippos fit in with the good competition. There are some classy coaches and teams in 25-6A. All of the AD’s in the district are hard working, lead with integrity, and are a pleasure to work alongside!"