National Coach of the Year Named at Clear Creek High School

Ty Halford from Clear Creek High School was named by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) as the 2024-2025 National Boys Water Polo Coach of the Year.

“I've been blessed to have people around me that help me be the best coach I can be,” said Halford. “There are a lot of hours from a lot of people that go into winning a national coach of year award, including an amazing assistant coach, dedicated athletes and supportive parents. It means a lot to me that NFHS, UIL and coaches around the state recognize the work we do,” he added.

The NFHS, which has been recognizing coaches through an awards program since 1982, honors coaches in the top 10 girls sports and top 10 boys sports, and in two “other” sports – one for boys and one for girls. Winners of NFHS awards must be active coaches during the year for which they receive their award. This year’s awards recognize coaches for the 2024-25 school year.

“Congratulations to Coach Halford on winning this prestigious national award and leading the way in this sport,” said Athletic Director Kirby Killingsworth. “He has built a water polo dynasty at Clear Creek High School with district titles, regional titles and now two State Championships back-to-back.”

The NFHS receives nominations from its member state associations, which often works with the state coaches’ association in its respective state. The state association then contacts the potential state award recipients to complete a coach profile form that requests information regarding the coach’s record, membership in and affiliation with coaching and other professional organizations, involvement with other school and community activities and programs, and coaching philosophy.

Halford has been the head coach at Clear Creek High School for eight years. Since the University Interscholastic League (UIL) made water polo a sanctioned sport in 2022, the Wildcats have compiled a 109-15-3 record. They have won the Class 6A state championship in each of the past two seasons, including a 31-4 finish in 2025. He was also named as the 2024-2025 Boys Water Polo Coach of the Year by the Texas High School Coaches Association and Texas Farm Bureau Insurance, among other accolades.