Randy Allen

Highland Park football coach

What is Randy Allen known for?

Randy Allen, born in 1950 in Abilene, Texas, is an acclaimed personality in the world of American football. A distinguished alumnus of Cooper High School, known for its football prowess, Allen showed great promise as a young tailback and slotback. He led the school to the state final against Austin Reagan at Fort Worth's Amon G. Carter Stadium in 1967, although they lost in a hotly contested match by a whisker, the score being 20-19.

Following his high school graduation, Allen further sharpened his skills under the guidance of coach Hayden Fry at the Southern Methodist University in Dallas. He played for the university team, the SMU Mustangs, from 1969 to 1972.

Transitioning from player to mentor, Allen started his coaching career at Bryan High School, serving as an assistant to his former high school coach, Merrill Green. He got his first break as a head coach at Ballinger High School, turning the team's fortunes around with an impressive record of 44–15–2 during his five-year tenure. His coaching journey also includes commendable stints at Brownwood High School and his alma mater, Abilene Cooper.

Allen made history as the head coach at Highland Park High School in Dallas, Texas, where he has been serving since 1999. Under his leadership, the team won its first-ever undefeated season and the 4A state title in 2005. Highland Park's 41-27 victory over JJ Pearce High School in 2011 marked Allen's 300th win, making him the 10th man in Texas high school football history to reach such a milestone.

He led the Scots to their second state title in 2016, earning him the prestigious Don Shula National Coach of the Year award. Three state championship wins and the fourth title during his tenure followed, making Highland Park a formidable name in the sport. As of November 18, 2023, Allen continues to hold the record as the winningest active coach, boasting an impressive overall record of 435-94-6.

Though he announced his retirement in the spring of 2018, he changed his decision after three weeks, a move that was applauded by his fans and well-wishers.

For more details about his illustrious journey and contributions, you can visit Allen's profile on the Highland Park ISD website.