DS coaches moving up, moving on

Four of Dripping Springs coaches have taken head coaching jobs. Three moved up the ladder at Dripping Springs and one moved to Fredericksburg.

At the end of the basketball season, girls basketball coach, David Norris, announced he was retiring from coaching and taking another assignment at DSISD. After a couple of months of searching for a replacement, the logical decision was made. Jordan Batson, a 2009 DSHS graduate was promoted to head coach to take the program forward. He had worked under Coach Norris for his four years, including the last two as his varsity assistant. In fact, Baston had to take the reins a couple of times when Coach Norris was having some medical problems. Coach Norris had been a successful coach at several places for 32 years. Coach Batson relayed how much he had learned under the leadership of Coach Norris and how overjoyed he was to have him on campus to continue as a mentor and reference point for his experience. Coach Batson is not only a good human being to set examples for our students but is young and full of energy to lead the Lady Tigers into the Class 6A competition coming up in the near future. Baston graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. Batson went on to earn a master’s degree in Education Administration from Lamar University.

Coach Carlos de la Cerda has taken the head baseball position for the Fredericksburg Fightin' Billies'. Coach Zimmerman hired him in 2015 and not only has he been on the football staff for the past six years but also served as baseball coach, Chris Payne's right hand man on the baseball team. He has been a valuable asset to both staffs. Can't think of a better place to start out your head coaching career. Much like Dripping Springs, they have always pushed for a total sports program and competed well in all. In all the years I got to deal with the Fredericksburg system, they always treated one like family. It is still a small town feel community, although starting to grow. Baseball has always been important to them. Coach de la Cerda will fit in very well and do an excellent job

Additionally, Michael Hoskovec will be the head swimming and diving coach, and Kourtney Morris has been named the head cross country and girls’ track coach.

Hoskovec just completed his first season at DSHS after 17 years as the head coach at Houston Stratford High School. He has been involved with the sport for more than 30 years, being named an NCAA All-American 24 times while swimming at Truman State University in Missouri. During his career, he has coached numerous high school All-Americans, state champions, and UIL record holders. He led the Stratford boys’ team to back-to-back state titles in 2012 and 2013 and is a three-time state coach-of-the-year honoree. Hoskovec has taught science for 18 years, and currently is teaching Chemistry and OnRamps Geoscience at DSHS.Previous Head Coach Andrea McCarthy will stay with the program, moving into the assistant coach position.

Morris has assisted Head Coach Marisa Tuzzi with boys’ and girls’ cross country for the past three seasons after coming to DSHS in 2018. After graduating from the University of Oregon with her bachelor of science in Human Physiology, Morris obtained her master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She has ran nine half-marathons and three marathons. In January of 2021, Morris received her USATF Level 1 coaching certification. Morris teaches Chemistry at DSHS and also currently is an assistant softball coach. Tuzzi will remain in her role as the assistant athletic director.