This Week in TXHSFB: Movement in Mesquite, Coastal Bend hires, Magnolia ISD picks a new AD

Mike Overton retires at Mesquite Horn
Mesquite Horn head coach Mike Overton announced on Wednesday after National Signing Day, that he would be retiring from education after an outstanding 39-year career, much of which was spent in Mesquite ISD. Overton posted an impressive 116-68 record as a head coach with stops at Farmersville, West Mesquite and Mesquite Horn. Overton was an assistant on Mesquite’s 2001 Class 5A Division I state title team as well.

In 2002, Overton landed his first head coaching job at Farmersville where he spent three seasons. He returned to West Mesquite as an assistant in 2005 before being elevated to head coach in 2006. The Wranglers made just two playoff appearances in school history prior to his arrival and he authored a tremendous turnaround leading WMHS to seven straight playoff appearances, including a school best 10-4 mark in 2007, followed up with a 10-3 record in 2010. In 2013, Overton moved across town to Mesquite Horn where he led the Jaguars to six straight trips to the playoffs and two trips to the third round. 2018, which would be his final year at the helm may have been Coach Overton’s finest coaching job as Mesquite Horn against one of the state’s toughest schedules started the year 0-7. The opening slate included games against two eventual state champions (Longview and Highland Park) along with Allen, Arlington High, Rockwall and Cedar Hill. Horn rattled off three straight wins to sneak into the playoffs at 3-7. The Jaguars then went on the road in the first round of the playoffs and stunned favored Temple in the first round of the playoffs and earn an area round home game against Wylie that it won before seeing the magical run end with a 5-8 mark falling to Spring Westfield in the regional semifinals.