Texas Coach Makes History With 3rd Championship, Community Celebrates

The streets of Oak Cliff are alive with celebration as the community gathers to honor their Golden Bears and a coach who just made history.

South Oak Cliff High School captured the Texas UIL 5A Division II state football championship this season, marking their third title in five years with victories in 2021, 2022, and now 2025. But this win means something extra special for Texas high school football history.

Head Coach Jason Todd has become the first African-American head football coach in Texas history to win three UIL state football championships. It's a milestone that organizers are calling "unprecedented," and it's bringing the entire Oak Cliff community together for a celebration worthy of the achievement.

Saturday morning kicked off with a parade starting at 10:15 at the For Oak Cliff Community Center on E. Ledbetter Drive. The procession wound north up S. Marsalis Avenue, leading straight to South Oak Cliff High School where a celebration program began at the football stadium at noon.

The Next Generation Action Network partnered with Dallas ISD to host the festivities, bringing together families, students, alumni, and neighbors to honor not just a winning season, but what this team and their coach represent for the community.

The Ripple Effect

Coach Todd's achievement goes far beyond the trophy case. In a state where high school football is practically a religion, his success opens doors and expands what young coaches across Texas see as possible for themselves.

For the students at South Oak Cliff, watching their coach make history while leading them to victory sends a powerful message about excellence, perseverance, and breaking barriers. These aren't just football lessons but life lessons that will stay with these young athletes long after they hang up their jerseys.

The consistency of the program speaks volumes too. Three championships in five years isn't luck or a fluke. It's the result of dedication, strong leadership, and a community that believes in investing in its young people.

Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux joined the celebrations, highlighting how this achievement brings together civic leaders, educators, and residents in shared pride. When a community rallies around its young people like this, everyone wins.

The Golden Bears' success story reminds us that when schools, coaches, families, and communities work together, incredible things happen. Oak Cliff is showing Texas and the rest of the country what's possible when you invest in youth, support visionary leadership, and celebrate excellence.

As the celebration continues, one thing is clear: this isn't just about football. It's about a community lifting up its young people, a coach breaking barriers, and a team proving that hard work and dedication still create champions. That's a winning formula worth celebrating.