Hutto hires Will Compton as new high school football coach

Over the past decade, Hutto has made a habit of hiring offensive-minded coaches that like to put the ball in the air while putting plenty of points on the scoreboard.

The hiring of Will Compton continued that trend Wednesday, when the Hutto school district announced that the offensive coordinator at Johnson in the Hays school district will take over as Hutto’s head coach and the school's boys athletic coordinator. Compton replaces Brad LaPlante, who officially stepped into a full-time athletic director role last week after serving as both the head football coach and athletic director for four seasons.

Compton said "a combination of things" made the Hutto job particularly attractive.

"I've known Coach LaPlante for a while and am looking forward to working with him, and the success they've had has been great," he said, referring to six playoff berths by the Hippos in the past seven seasons. "Plus, it's a large single-high school district that has a lot of the things that my family and I were looking at in a school. I know it may not be one high school for too much longer, but we're excited about what it offers."

LaPlante said Compton and his coaching style should be a seamless fit for a Hutto program that will enter its third season in Class 6A in August.

“I’ve known Coach Compton for a number of years, and I know he just loves working with kids,” LaPlante said. “He’s a good family man, and he makes decisions based on what’s best for the kids.

“And he’s been a part of some good offenses everywhere he’s been. We’re excited about our team and the entire coaching staff.”

More: As Hutto's growth booms, Brad LaPlante steps down as head football coach, assumes AD role

Compton has spent two decades as a football coach in Texas, including three seasons as the head coach at Bryan Rudder from 2014-16. His résumé includes stints as the offensive coordinator for high-powered offenses at schools such as Refugio, La Marque, Tyler John Tyler and Conroe Oak Ridge. Last season, he helped head coach Steve Hoffman guide Johnson to the Class 5A Division I playoffs in just their second season as a varsity program.

Serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Compton coached an offense that averaged 239 yards passing and 200 yards rushing per game while scoring 43.5 points a game. In particular, quarterback Jesse Medina thrived under Compton’s tutelage while throwing for 2,544 yards and 27 touchdowns and rushing for another 660 yards and 11 touchdowns for a team that went 9-2.

Compton’s coaching background seems like a good fit for the 2022 Hippos, who went 5-6 in 2021 while qualifying for the Class 6A playoffs. Hutto will compete in District 12-6A this upcoming season with Weiss, Bryan, Copperas Cove, Temple, Waco Midway and Killeen Harker Heights. Hutto quarterback Will Hammond, an incoming junior, had an impressive sophomore season with 1,704 yards passing and 17 touchdowns and another 419 yards and eight scores on the ground. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Hammond recently picked up an offer from Texas Tech.

Hammond isn't the only player with next-level talent. Running back Jalon Banks recently picked up an offer from Air Force, and edge rusher Brody Bujnoch and receiver Gary Choice are among the other players that will have collegiate options.

"When I watched the video and clips of Hutto, the skill kids they have really stood out," Compton said. "And a lot of those kids were sophomores and juniors last season. I'm excited about getting started."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Will Compton hired as new head coach for Hutto High School football