New Leadership Takes the Field

Former Tompkins High School offensive coordinator to assume head football coach and athletic director
Byline photo of Fakheri Zayed
Fakheri Zayed, Editor-in-Chief
February 23, 2026
Arm in full extension, junior Aubryn Davis stiff-arm fends his way through the Liberty Hill defense. Davis has been a starter for varsity since his freshman year. “The atmosphere was absolutely crazy, we knew going in it was going to be a back-and-forth shootout, but nothing beats the feeling of taking down the Liberty Hill Panthers,” Davis said. “In the final minutes I was definitely nervous, not knowing how it would end, but I trusted my team and knew we had it in the bag.”
Arm in full extension, junior Aubryn Davis stiff-arm fends his way through the Liberty Hill defense. Davis has been a starter for varsity since his freshman year. “The atmosphere was absolutely crazy, we knew going in it was going to be a back-and-forth shootout, but nothing beats the feeling of taking down the Liberty Hill Panthers,” Davis said. “In the final minutes I was definitely nervous, not knowing how it would end, but I trusted my team and knew we had it in the bag.”
Alexander Zamora

Today marks a new chapter, with Principal Vincent Hawkins welcoming new head football coach and athletic director, Mark Hopkins to the campus, taking over Joshua Mann’s role since 2008.

Hopkins officially starts Monday, March 2. The job posting for the campus athletic director and head football coach was posted on Jan. 30 gaining over 40 applicants.

“I envision that we’re gonna build champions for life on and off the field,” Hopkins said. “We’re gonna do it by teaching a mindset of earning the right to win with class and character. In football specifically, we are going to apply the way that you win in life is by applying hard work, toughness, discipline, family and finishing everything.”

Hopkins previously served as an offensive coordinator and quarterback coach at Obra D. Tompkins High School in Katy ISD. Hopkins has mentored former Alabama QB and Seahawks QB Jalen Milroe and 1st Team All-AC WR Wyatt Young. In the past seven years, he has helped more than 70 athletes reach the collegiate level. He studied business at the University of Houston.

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This morning, Hawkins sent an email out to teachers introducing Hopkins, stating he has successfully taught everything from Business Education to Aerospace Engineering. He later said Hopkins’ program is built on Class and Character.

“I am so excited about being part of your family,” Hopkins said. “I’m so excited about being a Raider. Please fist bump me when you see me in the hallway. I will be in the hallway a lot.”

Hawkins also says Hopkins has a Master’s in Educational Leadership and experience as both a department chair and an assistant principal.

“I am more than just a football coach,” Hopkins said. “I really like connecting with kids and supporting them and all their different activities that they do. You just have to have an elite mindset into whatever you do.”

Hopkins was on campus today meeting some coaches, the football team and staff members. Tomorrow, he will be meeting with the rest of the athletic coaches.

“It seems like a great family environment, just in the few meetings that I’ve had this morning,” Hopkins said. “It’s really been a welcoming place.”

Mann, the previous head director, announced his departure Jan. 30. Now, Mann serves as the new head football coach for Belton High School.

“I had some friends in the area that told me that Rouse High School was full of great people and great kids, very similar to the community that I was in in Katy,” Hopkins said. “At Tompkins High School, they all just said, ‘Coach Hopkins, you are a good fit for Rouse. This is a good place for you and for your family.’ So, the more I looked into it, the more I realized that that was the case.”