DUMAS — In the classic movie, “The Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy tapped her ruby slippers and spoke the phrase “there’s no place like home.” While Dorothy sought to return to Kansas, a phrase like that carries a different weight within the Dumas athletics programs.
If you grew up as a Demon or a Demonette, graduated in the colors of orange and black, and sought a career in coaching or education, there’s an option open. It entails sticking close to home, traveling very little to acquire an education, and eventually opening up the door to give back to the younger student-athletes.
So far, Dumas has been the only school in Texas to implement that choice.
When Dumas head football coach Aaron Dunnam and the Dumas ISD administration implemented the “Grow Your Own” initiative in 2023, the program sought to handle a recurring problem in public schools — staff shortages and constant teacher turnover.
“We decided that, instead of bringing people from the outside who might be here for a year or may not last long, we decided to fix our own problems with our own people,” Dunnam said. “The people we hired love Dumas, Texas. They have been through our program. They have played for us. They understand our standards.”
They can get their CDL, and they can start driving buses for us,” added Dunnam. “Then, we plug them into the school system as paraprofessionals. After that, they can work their way up.”
According to Dunnam, Dumas ISD helps pay portions of college once the alumni pass all of their classes and acquire a degree.
So far, it’s been a win-win for alumni and the Demons. Of the current coaches within the program, seven of the 13 went through the “Grow Your Own” program. Those seven are Parker Dunnam, Hayden Waddell, Omar Hernandez, Brodie Robinson, Pierce Powers, Angel Torres and Tijerina.
Parker Dunnam, Waddell and Hernandez are already coaching at the high school level, while Powers, Robinson, Torres and Tijerina help oversee the junior high side.
Within the seven, Parker Dunnam, Waddell and Hernandez have deep connections to Dumas. Parker arrived with Dunnam. Waddell moved to Dumas with his father, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach David Waddell, when he was in seventh grade. Hernandez was born and raised.
Each had positive experiences during their time as Demons, which is why all three wanted to give back.
“We just have people helping us all the way,” Waddell said. “We get to learn from these coaches every day. We just get to see our coaches do things. It makes you into a better coach and it makes you a better person overall.”
Parker, who jumped into the program right after high school, was already driving buses and working with elementary students before moving up the ladder to junior high last season. This year, he’s among the high school staff.
“I didn’t think it’d be this soon,” said Parker. “But I’m extremely fortunate to be here and learn this quickly. I actually worked at our different schools and I got my CDL. I was driving a morning and evening route every day. Last season, I coached at the junior high. This year, I moved up to the high school level. I’ve been really looking forward to it.”
Channeling his father, Parker provided an optimistic outlook for the Demons.
“We’ve had a really good summer, and I’m really excited about the guys we have coming up,” Parker said.
Following graduation, Hernandez initially worked at JBS while he was earning his associate’s degree from Amarillo College. When Dunnam approached him about joining the “Grow Your Own” program in 2023, Hernandez jumped at the opportunity.
“This is a dream for me,” Hernandez said. “When you have a supporting staff and a supporting school board, everything just falls into place. I thank God that all three of us are here. This program is something special.”
Out of the 13 coaches backing up Dunnam in practices or during games, 10 played for Dunnam during his time as either defensive coordinator or head coach. This includes those who suited up for the Demons, left for a few years and eventually returned. Those individuals are familiar names linked with Dumas’ success on the gridiron — Cade Cox, Kirk Green, Tommy Inthirath, Tony Inthirath, Erasmo Mendoza and Trace Sheldon.
“We’re just trying to serve our own community and our own kids,” Dunnam said. “It’s worked out really well for us. It’s also worked out really well for us in athletics, because they all played for us. They know our systems. They know what we do.”
At one point of his extensive time with Dumas, Dunnam pivoted his rationale. Over the past decade, the Demons have achieved plenty of success. Dumas owns a 78-37 record since 2016, along with two deep playoff runs in 2019 and 2020.
Furthermore, the Demons haven’t missed the postseason since 2014. That track record produces a lot of talent. Talent who has potential to turn homeward and sustain the standard.
“I used to not always believe that you wanted to fill a staff with a bunch of people that are from here,” Dunnam said. “I’ve changed on that, because we’ve had major success with people who love this place, who were raised by this place, and believe that Dumas is the best place on Earth. They sell that to our kids, and we keep building on that momentum, that culture and that excitement. It’s been a great tool for us.”
At most places, programs tend to look outward to refill the ranks. With Dumas, it’s all about building from within. Familiarity, according to Dunnam, is paramount.
“When a new job opens, I don’t first look to go out across the entire state of Texas,” said Dunnam. “I look right here at our junior high coaches who know the system, know our kids, have been working with them, and look for (both coaches and athletes) to advance.”
From the outside, loyalty and consistency seem to be major pillars for the program. Dunnam points toward love, accountability and toughness as critical parts of the “Dumas Way.”
“Love has drawn our kids back here,” Dunnam said. “With my own son, Parker, he didn’t want to go anywhere else after he graduated. He didn’t want to go away. He believes that he has the best friends that he’s ever found to be right here in Dumas, Texas. He’s got great support. He’s working for a school district and administrators who really mold, mentor and grow teachers.”
“This is not just an athletic deal,” added Dunnam. “These guys are very successful in the classroom, because we have great people who really help, wrap their arms around these young kids, and grow them. They just feel the love across the community.”
Parker concurred with his father.
“I really can’t think of a better route to get started,” he said. “We’re still going to school, getting all of our credits. I’ll be fully certified in my teaching field next December. Things go really fast. We are full into teaching and coaching. It’s a pretty unique experience.”
For Hernandez, the initiative holds gravity. He was inspired by the late Antonio Murga, a beloved coach within the Dumas football and wrestling programs.
“Coach Murga really shaped me into the man I am today,” said Hernandez. “He told me one day, ‘whenever I’m gone, you’re going to replace me.’ That really pushed me into the profession. Not necessarily because I wanted to, but because it was a calling from the Lord.”
Waddell sought to coach, because he was brought up by great mentors.
“I know these guys are great coaches,” Waddell said. ” I’m a product of them. The person that I am now is because of them. I’m trying to take in whatever they do and apply it to myself.”
Dunnam’s goal for the “Grow Your Own” strategy is to bring several more new minted alumni and develop them. Should a coach aim to go elsewhere, Dunnam is more than happy to help them land somewhere. However, the overall objective is to keep them in Dumas.
“I think it’ll continue to grow,” said Dunnam. “Dumas is different. It’s a great place to raise a family. It’s a great place to live. It’s a great place to work. I want people who want to be here, who love this place and aren’t looking over the fence, trying to find other places.”
For any Dumas student-athlete who wants to eventually pace the sidelines for the Demons or Demonettes, the trio of Parker Dunnam, Waddell and Hernandez offer one resounding piece of advice — commitment.
“It’s a tough thing to do,” said Waddell. “It’s tough to go to college and to be here. You see some people get into the profession, they’re not really sure if they want it or not. You have to commit and you have to grind. When you do, it’ll give back to you.”
Parker expanded on Waddell’s words.
“Waking up early in the morning at 18 years old, driving a bus every day and taking kids to school isn’t the funnest thing in the world,” Parker said. “But you have to trust the process, be committed and make every conversation important. I’ve met so many different teachers, coaches and admins. Those conversations are so valuable at this stage in my career.”
According to Hernandez, the experience is worth the effort.
“It’s very difficult, but it’s very rewarding,” Hernandez said. “It’s all about building relationships with the guys, being in the classroom and helping change a kid’s life, is really special to me. If anyone out there wants to do those things, I would say that this is perfect.”
