by Liam Pheiffer (Posted on May 28, 2026 @ 12:17 p.m.)

Alamo Heights has officially named Coach Reno as the new athletic director, and he says he is “fired up” for this opportunity. Coach Reno explained that athletics and extracurricular activities have always been important to him because of the impact they have on students both inside and outside the classroom. Before taking this role, he spent 16 years as a high school tennis coach and a special education teacher at NEISD and Judson ISD. He also shared that he began his career at Alamo Heights at the high school as an assistant principal for 4 years, then became the principal of Woodridge Elementary where he currently serves. As Coach Reno begins his journey as the athletic director of Alamo Heights, he has some plans for the future that could change the Alamo Heights Athletic Program and how we view it.

Building Stronger Connections Early

One of the biggest things Reno is excited about is building stronger connections with student athletes at every level. He wants the athletic experience to begin before high school by involving sixth, seventh, and eighth graders more in the program. Reno explained that he wants younger students to know the coaches earlier and feel connected to the district’s athletic culture. He said he hopes to “maximize their opportunities for success through high school” by creating stronger relationships and experiences from a younger age.

Experience Leading the Way

Reno also believes his past experiences will help him succeed as athletic director. He has experience as a player, coach, and administrator, which gives him multiple perspectives on athletics. He explained that the job is not about him or the coaches, but instead about creating the best possible experience for student athletes. Reno wants every sports program to compete at a high level while also teaching important life lessons through teamwork, preparation, and hard work.

New Ideas for the Future

Reno has shared ideas about bringing younger students closer to high school athletics through special “youth nights” where elementary students could meet athletes, get autographs, and take pictures after games. He believes these events could help younger students become excited about one day becoming Alamo Heights Mules themselves. He also confirmed that the athletic director role will now be separate from the head football coaching position, allowing him to focus completely on supporting every athletic program in the district.

Leaving Woodridge Behind

Although Reno is excited for the new position, he admitted that leaving his current role at Woodridge will be difficult. He said the only negative part of taking the job is leaving students he cares about deeply. Reno shared that he has spent around 25 years in education, and has “loved every moment” of it. Even though he will miss his students at Woodridge, he believes this new role will allow him to positively impact even more students across the district.

Raising the Standard for Every Sport

Looking ahead, Reno hopes to continue improving the district’s already successful athletic programs. He wants all teams to have high expectations and believes every program should aim to make the playoffs each year. Reno explained that athletes and coaches cannot control every outcome, but they can control how prepared they are each season. He also wants coaches to feel fully supported with the equipment, knowledge, and organization needed to help athletes succeed.