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Five-time Texas high school football state champion coach resigns

Lawrence Andrew Fernandezby:Lawrence Fernandez•04/29/25•

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Jake Fieszel - Texas high school football
Gunter's head football coach Jake Fieszel watches a play during the Class 3A, Division II State Championship game on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (© Angela Piazza/Caller-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

A Texas high school football coach with five state titles resigned from his position due to personal reasons. The Sherman Herald Democrat’s Jason Della Rosa wrote that Jake Fieszel confirmed his resignation as Gunter High School head football coach and athletic director.

Fieszel coached the Tigers for 18 seasons and won five Texas high school football Class 3A Division II state titles. After winning the state championships in 2016 and 2019, the University of Texas alum guided Gunter to three consecutive state titles.

Furthermore, he guided the Tigers to undefeated seasons in 2022 (15-0) and 2023 (16-0). Gunter ended these campaigns with state championship victories against Poth (2022) and Tidehaven (2023).

Fieszel won his first Texas high school football state championship in 2016. He mentored the Tigers to a 16-0 record, capped off by a dominating 43-7 victory over Boling. Three years later, Gunter became state champions once more after defeating Paul Pewitt 43-22.

Two years ago, Fieszel earned his 200th victory with the Tigers. He ended his coaching career in Gunter with a 224-31 record, which included a 63-13 playoff mark. While it’s rare for the Tigers to lose two games in a season, it occurred last year after coming up short versus the Anna Coyotes and the Celina Bobcats.

Despite that setback, the Frisco High School alum added another state championship victory to his collection via a 28-0 shutout of Woodville. This triumph makes him only the seventh Texas high school football coach to win five state titles.

In addition to those championships, Fieszel led Gunter to two runner-up finishes and nine state semifinal appearances. The Tigers have also won nine consecutive district titles and own a 56-game winning streak among District 7 opponents.

Delivering on both sides of the football made Gunter a Texas high school football powerhouse. On defense, they held opponents to single digits 77 times, including 35 shutouts. Likewise, they broke the school record for total points after totaling 903 points during the 2023-24 season.