COACHES and TRAINERS
Laban DeLay enters his fifth year as Athletic Coordinator / Head Football Coach for the South Grand Prairie Warriors. After spending six years as Head Football Coach at Arlington Lamar High School Coach DeLay returned to SGP and enters his 31st year in Education with stints also at Richardson High School, Hubbard ISD, Dublin High School and Weatherford High School. Coach DeLay has set a standard of excellence throughout his career and this year is no different. In his six years of seasons for Lamar they reached the Regional Semi-Finals twice with an 11-2 record as well as the Area Finals twice. While at South Grand Prairie he served as Defensive Coordinator developing defensive units that were statistical leaders throughout the metroplex. Prior to SGP, he was the Defensive Coordinator at Richardson High School for four years and served on the staff that turned the program around into a playoff contender after a single season. Coach DeLay made his Head Football coaching debut at Hubbard ISD where he lead his football program into the playoffs as an offensive play caller. While under Coach DeLay’s leadership as Athletic Director, Hubbard ISD won a State Championship in track as well as all other sports succeeding into the playoffs for three consecutive years. Coach DeLay started his career in 1995 at Weatherford High School and in 1999 served as the co-offensive coordinator leading the football program to the Regional Championship. Throughout his career he has served as a head coach in Football, Baseball, Track, Powerlifting and Girls Soccer as well as coordinating both the offensive and defensive units in football. Coach DeLay is a 1990 graduate of Arlington High School and earned his Bachelors of Science Degree at Tarleton State University on a baseball scholarship. He then returned to Tarleton State to receive his Masters of Education Administration Degree along with his Principal Certification. Coach DeLay is married to Kelly, a first grade teacher at Butler Elementary, and they have two children. Addison is a graduate of Texas A&M and Austin is a Sophomore at Austin College. The DeLay’s are extremely excited about the 2025 season and look forward to upholding the strong Warrior tradition.
Laban DeLay
Athletic Director, Head Coach, Outside Linebackers
Eric Kemp
C0-Offensive Coordinator, Offensive Line
University Attended & Graduated: University of Texas
Years & Coaching Experience: 30, 15 at South Grand Prairie
Michael Copeland
University Attended & Graduated: Texas Christian University (2006)
Years & Coaching Experience: 19 years (5th year at SGP)
Family: Wife, Jenna; daughter, Madison (6); son Alexander (3)
Defensive Coordinator
Phil Van Cleave
University Attended & Graduated: East Texas Baptist – B.S.E. / Hardin Simmons - MA Years & Coaching Experience: 18– years football/ 15- years track Family: wife: Randa; son, Carter (12); son, Grayson (10); daughter, Avery (8); stepson, Eli (11)
Co-Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks
Deron Fontenot
University Attended & Graduated: Oklahoma State University 2011 Years & Coaching Experience: 14 years Family: his beautiful wife, Tara Fontenot; son, Deron James Fontenot II; daughter, Vivian Louise Fontenot
Safeties
Hunter Childress
University Attended & Graduated: Stephen F. Austin State University Years & Coaching Experience: 7th year coaching and teaching at SGP Family: Wife, Laura Childress
Defensive Line
Cedric Standard
University Attended and Graduated: Texas A&M University Commerce graduated 2008, UTA graduated 2017 (masters) Years & Coaching Experience: 17th year teaching and coaching, 4th at SGP Family: Wife, Ashley; 4 year old Rat Terrier, Leo
Defensive Line
Carlos Teal
University Attended & Graduated: Sam Houston State University, B.S 2018; Tarleton State University, M.S. 2019 Years & Coaching Experience: 7 years coaching, 2nd year at SGP Family: wife, JaBria Teal
Running Backs
Steven Kinner
Wide Receivers
23rd year coaching and teaching.Has had position stops at Richardson and Lubbock ISD and has been a coordinator/assistant head coach at Seminole, Dallas Adamson, South Garland, Amarillo Palo Duro, and Dallas Conrad high schools. Family: Wife Amanda, Mekhi (15), Bella (4)
Geoff Terry
Offense, Running Backsand Wide Receivers
Terry arrived at East Texas A&M in March 2024 as Defensive Backs Coach. after serving as the Defensive coordinator, cornerbacks coach, and assistant head coach at Navarro College. The Bulldogs finished as the runner up in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference in 2023 season. Prior to Navarro College, Terry spent three seasons as the Defensive backs coach at Delta State, having coached one All-American, Junior Faulk Also Coached First round NFL Pick Jaycee Horn. He had stints at Wingate University, Alpharetta High School (Georgia), Duluth High School (Georgia), and Alfred State College. Terry played defensive back for Alfred State, earning NJCAA All-America honors and went on to play at Buffalo. Following his collegiate career, Terry had a stint in the Canadian Football League with the Hamilton Tiger Cats and signed a free agent contract with the New York Jets. He is a native of Buffalo, New York. Family: Wife Aquarius Terry , 4 Sons Ace (10), Zion (8) , Jordan 25, Rius 27
Michael Washington
Assistant Offensive Line
University Attended & Graduated: Tarleton State University, B.S. 2012; Dallas Baptist University M.A. 2018 Years & Coaching Experience: 8 years coaching, 3rd year at SGP Family: wife, Jazmyne Washington
Jason Young
Head Freshman Coach, Offensive Line and Defensive Line
I will be starting my 23rd teaching and coaching. I will be the Head freshman coach for football and will be assisting in boys soccer while teaching Astronomy this year at SGP. My amazing wife, Amber and I, have been married for 24 years and have 2 awesome daughters. Alexis (21) will be graduating from Tarleton this coming December and Emma (18) will be beginning her college experience this fall while playing soccer at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. I look forward to a great year!
Abel Herrera
Freshman Offensive Line and Inside Linebackers
I have been coaching and teaching for over 20 yrs. I am originally from El Paso, Tx, and spent the last 11 yrs at Mansfield Timberview High School. I will be coaching Football and tennis here at SGP and am also in charge of the SGP Bass Team. I have been married to the love of my life, Irma, for 20 yrs and have two wonderful boys. My oldest son, Marco, is a sophomore at Oklahoma Baptist University where he plays football and is on the Bass Fishing Team. My youngest son, Carlo, is a freshman here at SGP and plays football and golf. I am extremely excited and looking forward to a great year. Go Warriors!!
Jalen Boyd
Freshman Quarterbacks and Safeties
University Attended & Graduated: University of Northern Colorado (2016) Years & Coaching Experience: 5 year teaching and coaching Family: Wife, Rebecca; daughter, Jovie (4); son, Kairo, (2)
Colton Gerken
University Attended and Graduated: Austin College where he played football. 1st year teaching and coaching Proud South Grand Prairie Alumni
Freshman Running Backs and Outside Linebackers
Michael Dews
Hello, my name is Michael Dews. I am a World Geography teacher as well as Assistant Football and Baseball coach. This will be my first year teaching and coaching at the high school level, but I have been coaching select baseball in the DFW area since I graduated from Prairie View A&M University in 2024. I am super excited to help our kids reach their full potential on the field and in the classroom!
Freshman Football
Joshua Wardlow
University Attended & Graduated: Missouri Southern State University Years & Coaching Experience: This will be my 21st year teaching and coaching. My 3rd year at SGP. Family: wife, Melissa; son, Jordan (12); daughter, Addison (9)
Corners, Co-head JV
Laura Childress
Brand and Social Engagement Coordinator
University Attended & Graduated: Texas State University, BFA in Dance Education (2016) Years & Coaching Experience: 4 year Chey-Anne and Senior Captain, Texas State Strutter, Year 10 teaching dance and directing The Chey-Anne Dance Team. Family: Husband, Hunter Childress
Athletic Trainers
Lance Gholston
Head Athletic Trainer
University Attended: Bachelors in Athletic Training from Henderson State University; Masters in Sports Administration from Henderson State University Years & Training Experience: 18 years at SGP Family: Wife, April; daughter, Addison (12), son, Grayson (9)
Lizbeth Alvarez
Athletic Trainer
University Attended: Bachelor’s degree from Texas State University (2018), Master’s degree from University of Texas at Arlington (2021) Years & Training Experience: 5th year at SGP
Milaena Pezzatti
Athletic Trainer
University Attended: Bachelor's and Master's degrees from University of Texas at Arlington Years & Training Experience: 4th year at SGP Family: Husband, Nicholas; son, Dominic (6); Davina (2)