Argyle star quarterback Hayes Hackney immediately eligible after UIL hearing

The UIL State Executive Committee has ruled junior quarterback Hayes Hackney immediately eligible for varsity competition at Argyle High School by unanimous vote.

Hackney, the Dallas-Fort Worth area Class 5A passing yards leader through eight weeks of the season, missed one game after the District 3-5A DII Executive Committee ruled 6-0 that he violated section 443 of UIL code for not living in the Argyle school zone.

As a freshman and sophomore, Hackney led Prosper Walnut Grove to back-to-back district championships. In January 2026, the Hackney family moved from Prosper to Argyle, and Hackney enrolled at Argyle High School for his second semester of sophomore year. The family said the move allowed Hackney's mother, Cristina, to be closer to her parents in ailing health, as she was their primary caretaker. A move to Argyle also allowed Hackney's father, Mark, to be closer to his real estate development business in Fort Worth. 

On May 19, the District 3-5A DII Executive Committee ruled by a 4-2 vote that Hackney had not transferred for athletic purposes and was eligible at Argyle High School for his junior football season. But this fall, anonymous emails were sent to every member of the DEC, prompting a new hearing on October 20 regarding whether or not he lived in Argyle's attendance zone.

Speaking on behalf of the DEC, Lewisville Associate Athletic Director Colby Lewis said the group felt that the Hackneys officially leasing their house on October 14 and setting up new showings after the emails came to light felt reactionary. The Hackney family previously stated that, because of the Prosper neighborhood's exclusivity and price range, the house was marketed as a Private Exclusive Listing and proving difficult to sell. 

"The biggest concern communicated by the committee was that the steps they (the Hackney family) took to being compliant were reactionary to the anonymous emails. They had concerns on the timeline, and a lot of questions regarding the private showing and how much the (Prosper) house was listed for."

At that October 20 hearing, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Executive Director of Athletics Billy Skinner questioned the timing of a separate September 30 private listing update, which came after the emails. At the hearing, the Hackney family relator, Victoria DeLaCruz, said that was because her company, Coldwell Banker, was purchased and migrating sites. 

At Thursday's hearing, Brian Wclslo, the Hackney family counsel, further clarified the house has consistently been on the market. 

"The December 8, 2025 broker agreement predates that concern," Wclslo said. "Also, the house was continuously listed from December 8 until present. So there are no reactions."

The UIL was complimentary of Argyle ISD for undergoing extensive home visits at the Hackney's Argyle house and documenting every step of their process. 

"I'll just be up front, I'm having a hard time finding any reason to say that these folks do not reside in the Argyle school district," committee chair Mike Motheral said.

Hayes Hackney, reading from a pre-written statement, expressed frustration at being ruled ineligible for circumstances he couldn't control.

"I'm 16 years old, and I honestly don't understand why I'm standing here today," Hackney said. "I've done everything I was supposed to do. I followed my parents and family to Argyle. I've gone to school, worked hard, and followed the rules. But, somehow, I've been ruled ineligible, and nobody can explain to me why."

"It's embarrassing, because everyone thinks I must've done something wrong, but I don't know what that would be," Hackney continued. "I don't make decisions about about where my family lives or what my parents do with their old house. I just moved with my family like any other kid would. 

"The hardest part isn't just missing football. It's feeling like I'm being punished for something nobody can explain."

The UIL stressed that they were voting on whether or not Hackney lived in Argyle's attendance zone, not debating whether or not he transferred for athletic purposes. Addressing DEC 3-5A DII representative Colby Davis, committee chair Mike Motheral said that if the district thought Hackney moved for athletic purposes, they should've ruled so back at the first May hearing instead of retroactively doing so in October.

"Your District Executive missed the boat on this back in May," Motheral said. "It was considered then whether or not it was an athletic move. I'll just say this, we've had an opportunity to look at all that information, (and there are) so many indicators that this was a change for athletic purposes. The committee did not step up and make that decision."

Piggy-backing off of Motheral's statement, voting member James Colbert said the Hackney's residency in Argyle was cut and dry.

"As it stands right now, I don't see the big flaw in the residency," Colbert said. "If someone's living in your previous home, you can't possibly be living there. I've been on this committee a long time, and I don't know how many of these cases we've actually had where we're talking about residency and not transferring for athletic purposes. So that makes this different."

Hackney will be eligible for Argyle's regular season finale against Nevada Community this Friday. Argyle (8-1) is the No. 3-ranked team in Class 5A DII. In seven games, Hackney has thrown for 2,570 yards on a 74 percent completion rate with 32 touchdowns and two interceptions.