Retired DeSoto High School Girls Basketball Coach Larry Goad was recently announced as a member of the Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023. The class announced by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) will be inducted during a banquet May 20, 2023, as part of the annual TABC Clinic.
Seven other honorees will be inducted along with Coach Goad, including two other coaches and five players.
“One word can easily describe the eight men and women in the Class of 2023 - excellence,” said TABC Director Rick Shirley. “The class includes prolific players that excelled at scoring and coaches that won and were great mentors to their players. The class also recognizes efforts that have helped to grow the game of basketball not only within Texas, but throughout the United States.”
Coach Goad began teaching at DeSoto High School in 1985 and taught all levels of math over the course of 34 years. He also worked with students in the WINGS dropout recovery school as well as Athletes for Change (in house rehabilitation program).
Goad coached for 43 years, with head coaching stints for four years at Henrietta High School and 30 years at DeSoto High School. His teams won 766 games, which included 19 playoff appearances, 11 district championships, and advanced to eight regional finals (where his teams were eliminated by seven eventual state champions). He made one state tournament finals appearance in 2007-2008.
At DeSoto ISD, was named district coach of the year many times, as well as the Dallas Morning News Coach of the year. He has also been selected the Southwest NCAA regional high school coach of the
year from a 5-state area. He has had the honor of coaching many all-star teams for both
TABC and TCGA. His winning record of over 700 games at DeSoto shows brilliant consistency.
At least 150 young ladies from Coach Goad’s teams received all-district honors under his leadership. Many also received all-region and all-state team awards and were selected to Academic all-district and academic- all state as well. Over 130 young ladies advance to college play all over the nation as well as some of his managers, many on full or partial scholarships. Several became All-Americans in college, including DHS Alum Lisa Branch, the first All-American in Texas A&M women’s basketball history. Others advanced to the WNBA, others are coaching high school or college basketball. All but one student graduated with a degree from college.
Coach Goad and his wife Kathy, also a retired DeSoto ISD instructor and School Board Trustee, have been strong supporters of the district and the community of DeSoto. Both have been inducted into the DeSoto ISD Hall of Honor.
“On behalf of the DeSoto ISD, we congratulate former DHS Lady Eagles Girls basketball Coach Larry Goad on this recent honor,” stated DeSoto ISD Superintendent Dr. Usamah Rodgers. “ His legacy has left a mark of excellence, commitment and achievement to greater causes. His investment in the athletic, academic and personal development of countless scholars and athletes is a testament to his quality and character, a great example of what it means to exude the spirit of DeSoto and to soar as an Eagle.”