Thomas Lee
Head Football Coach/Athletic Coordinator
Sharyland ISD
Early Life:
Was born in Mitchell, South Dakota and moved to Mission Texas when he was 13 because dad wanted to be a head football coach in Texas.
High School:
Mission High School 1989. Parents David and Linda Lee. Father was his football coach for 2 years before he passed away with cancer. Coach Rusty Dowling took over for him after his passing and became a mentor and important figure in his life. 4 year letterman in football and track, and 3 year letterman in basketball. All-State in football. Attended Rice University on a football scholarship. Left Rice and transferred to Southwest Texas State to play football.
College:
Graduated with a Bachelors Degree in History and a minor in Speech Communication from Southwest Texas State.
Coaching Career:
Started Career at Sharyland High School in 1994 with Head Coach Pat Dowling. Coached Defensive Backs
Was promoted to Head Golf Coach/Assistant Football Coach from 1995-2000. Led the Girls teams to 3 Straight State Appearances and one Bronze Medal as a team.
Left Sharyland to Mission High School from 2001-2008. Coached Secondary for then Head Coach Jeff Dicus. Was named Head Football Coach in 2002 at his Alma Mater Mission Eagles after Coach Dicus moved to Lake Travis.
Came back to Sharyland High School from 2008-2013 and was the Special Teams Coordinator/Head Track Coach, and Defensive Backs Coach. As a Track Coach led the Diamondbacks to 5 straight District Championships. His teams own two All-Time Rio Grande Valley Track Records in the 4×100, and 4×200 Relays. He has taken numerous track athletes to the State Meet in Austin.
From 2014-2018 was named the Athletic Coordinator/Head Track Coach at the newly named Sharyland Pioneer High School. He led the Diamondbacks to 2 District Championships in 4 years and 2 area Championships. In 2018-19 was promoted to Head Football Coach/Athletic Coordinator. In his 1st season led the Diamondbacks to the playoffs against Port LaVaca Calhoun where they lost a nail biter 56-55.
Family: Married to Kristie Lee for 29 years. Have four children. Jordan 26, Matthew 20, Ethan 17, and Kyra 5.
I have been blessed in my life to be surrounded by good people who have helped shape me as an athlete, young man, coach and father. Rusty Dowling, Pat Dowling, Marcy De La Fuente, Jeff Dicus, Fred Sanchez, Ron Adame, and my principal James Heath have been very influential in my life as a coach and leader. They each made me believe that we can make a difference in a student-athletes life. Coach Richard Thompson has been the one person that has helped me the most in my career. He has been the one person that I could always turn to when I needed help. When I went through open heart surgery three years ago he was the first person I saw when they told me the news. He is more than and educator and a leader. He takes the time to get to know his coaches and genuinely cares about the struggles that each coach faces every day. He taught me that if you only coach the X’s and the O’s of the game then your missing out what is most important in coaching. I would not be where I am today without the support from Coach Thompson.
I also can’t thank enough all the people who make up Sharyland ISD. I have worked for this district for 18 of the 25 years I have been in coaching and teaching. This district is second to none in the support of its coaches and students. Superintendents Robert O’Connor and Mime Vidaurri are leaders that support athletics and understand the value of what sports can do for the student-athlete. This district exemplifies greatness through teamwork and collaboration from the students, teachers, administration, and coaches. The beliefs and ideals that this district stands for allows for us to be successful on and off the field.
Last quote I would like to leave with is something that has always made me want to coach and teach young student-athletes.
“A good coach can change a game. A great coach can change a life. John Wooden, former UCLA basketball coach
