SNYDER, TX – November 30, 2025 — The Snyder ISD community is celebrating a national moment of recognition after Coach Anthony Gonzales, Snyder ISD's Athletic Director and SHS Head Football Coach, was featured Sunday on ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown. The segment highlighted the profound, lasting impact educators and coaches have on student-athletes.
The program focused on the universal truth that teachers and coaches change lives, noting that all three NFL stars featured, when asked about their biggest mentors, named their high school coach.
Coach Gonzales coached Cleveland Browns Defensive End Myles Garrett during Garrett's time as a student-athlete at Arlington Martin High School. Following high school, Garrett went on to become a standout at Texas A&M University and was the #1 overall draft pick in 2017.
As a feature of the ESPN segment, Coach Gonzales flew to Cleveland to surprise his former player. Seeing Garrett's emotional reaction when he reunited with his high school coach serves as the ultimate testament to the dedication, support, and difference our coaches and teachers make, both inside and outside the classroom, every single day. We are incredibly proud of Coach Gonzales for representing the lasting impact of education and excited to see him celebrated in a BIG way.