Aug. 21—Westwood Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Richard Bishop received a prestigious honor in this year’s Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine.
The leader of the Panthers football team is one of 40 coaches under the age of 40 to make the fifth annual list by the publication.
“This is an honor for the kids, the district and everyone who has been involved who has helped build this thing from the ground up,” Bishop said. “It is definitely not an award that is mine alone. It is a program award, a tribute to the kids and staff for what they have done. It is a tribute to the administration for what they have done and provided us with the resources. It is a collective award and a Westwood ISD award.”
The 40 Under 40 list highlights the next generation of great coaches in Texas from the college to high school ranks.
“Dave Campbell’s Texas Football is proud to honor the best young coaches across Texas with our fifth annual 40 Under 40, recognizing 40 of the rising stars in the coaching ranks,” Dave Campbell’s Texas Football writers said.
Bishop said the process was basically Matt Stepp from Dave Campbell’s Texas Football and his staff coming up with the list and then receiving a message.
“It wasn’t a submission process or anything like that. I think they just get together and look at all of the data that is entered for the magazine,” Bishop said. “They have a pretty good idea of what is going on in the state football wise.”
Bishop said he received the message from Stepp asking if he was a subscriber and then making sure to check out the magazine, which is when he found out the news.
Dave Campbell’s Magazine stated Bishop’s Panthers have improved every season since taking over in 2018. That includes a 9-3 campaign in 2023 that was highlighted by their first playoff win since 2007 over East Chambers, 35-14.
Bishop was the offensive coordinator at Grapevine, a position coach at Normangee and Mesquite Poteet and was the offensive coordinator at Plano East.
He said working with Superintendent Wade Stanford has been the best partnership for him.
“I have told him when we meet that I don’t want to work with anyone else,” Bishop said. “It has been a really good partnership and team. He understands the athletic realm and has been through the challenges and what it takes. It has been a partnership that has been perfect honestly.”
He is the only coach from the Anderson or Houston County area on this year’s list.
“I think there are expectations, not pressure, which is good,” Bishop said. “I think when I came here, there were zero expectations for the football and athletic program in general. I think we made great strides in all sports, and program wide the expectations are huge. I don’t feel pressure and that is just part of it when you become relevant and a part of the conversation.”
Bishop will turn 40 in September and said this is big for him to receive this honor. He said he could not have done this without his wife, Ashleigh, and their two children Whitley and Leighton.
“It is humbling and rewarding,” Bishop said. “No one understands the hours that get put into this position. I see these guys and my coaching family and staff more than I see my immediate family. It is not a I have arrived type of thing, but a deal where you feel a little bit of accomplishment for what you have been doing. I think it has been built the right way and this is gratifying.”
