PEOPLE
2023 EDUCATION EDITION
Callan Nokes Eanes ISD athletics director looks to continue dominant streak C allan Nokes, Eanes ISD athletics director, is used to winning. As the former head BY KEATON PETERS
athletics director in 2022. In the new role, he helps coaches build relationships with athletes on their teams, manages the nances of the athletics program, and works with school principals and district administrators. This year, Nokes is ready to pass the reins of boys golf to a former student athlete he helped coach: 25-year-old Michael Rome, who won two state championships with West- lake High; played golf in college; and was an assistant coach during the 2022-23 academic year, when Nokes still coached golf in addition to his job at the district. “As with any young coach, he’s very energetic, and he’s going to do a great job,” Nokes said of Rome. The expectations will be high for Rome and every coach at Westlake High looking for a seventh consec- utive state championship, where athletics are a “huge deal.” The campus has around 2,850 students, and athletics participation is about 60%, Nokes said. In addition to boys golf and the football team, which recently won a state championship, the Westlake Chaparrals, or Chaps, are consid- ered among the best in the state at baseball, swimming, volleyball, basketball, tennis and girls soccer, Nokes said. “It’s the passion of these kids,” Nokes said. “That’s why they get up in the morning.”
The WILDcenter of Texas’ Animal Ambassadors are ready to visit schools all over Austin and Central Texas. From the largest owl species in the world to the largest snake species in the United States, our animal collection is truly spectacular! Schools, scouts, birthday parties, or corporate groups: we bring our animal ambassadors to you! His knack for building relation- ships and a positive environment for student athletes is part of why Nokes is moving on from coaching golf after becoming the Eanes ISD rewarding parts of his job is “to see the maturity, the work ethic, to see them improve in every area and mature from a boy to a young man.” Nokes graduated from The University of Texas in 1994 with a degree in journalism and started working at Westlake High in 1998, helping coach golf, football and bas- ketball until 2002, when he became the golf head coach. coach for boys golf at Westlake High School, Nokes led the team to six consecutive state championships in 6A division golf, the most compet- itive division in high school sports. But even more than winning, Nokes said he likes seeing the lives of student athletes transform before his eyes. “Wins are great, but seeing that happen is even better,” Nokes said. Nokes recalled an athlete on his team who was struggling early on and got caught cheating, but follow- ing a series of tough conversations, the athlete got on the right track, changed his ways and was even voted a team captain his last year with the program. For Nokes, one of the most
Callan Nokes became the Eanes ISD athletics director in 2022.
KEATON PETERS COMMUNITY IMPACT
NOKES’ ACHIEVEMENTS Nokes saw many wins during his 20 years spent as Head Golf Coach. • 9 Team State Championships (2009, 2010, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023)
• 4 Individual State Titles (2012, 2014, 2019, 2023) • 2 State team Runners-Up (2012 and 2015) • 3rd-place team (2016) • 4th-place team three times (2003, 2007, 2011) • 16 Regional Championships • 17 District Championships
Championship trophies can be seen in the halls of Westlake High School.
As a coach, Nokes led his teams to many victories.
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LAKE TRAVIS WESTLAKE EDITION • AUGUST 2023
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