Claude Mathis, the football coach who turned DeSoto High School into a power before leaving for a job at the collegiate level, is returning to the program.
Mathis last coached DeSoto in 2014. He then made the jump to college, taking a job as the running backs coach at SMU under Chad Morris. In 2017, Mathis returned to the high school ranks, taking the head coaching job at Marshall in East Texas.
During his seven-year stint at DeSoto, Mathis built the Eagles into contenders in the state's largest classification. They reached the state quarterfinals three times and the state semifinals in 2012 and 2013.
Two years after Mathis left Desoto, his replacement, coach Todd Peterman, led the team to a state championship.
Still, the program has been searching for stability since Mathis left. Just months after winning the Class 6A Division One title, rumors swirled that the DeSoto school board wanted to let Peterman go.
After push-back from parents and players, the board voted to keep Peterman as head coach. But after the 2017 season, Peterson stepped down.
North Mesquite coach Mike Robinson was hired as Peterman's replacement. But after a 9-3 year this past season, Robinson also stepped down from the position.
