"Earn it." This was the Mustangs' mantra during the 2025 Football season. These two simple words yielded powerful results; an impressive 10-game winning streak earned West Orange-Stark a ticket to Jerry Land for their ninth appearance at a UIL Championship game. This undeniable feat silenced doubters and brought a close-knit community even closer together, proving that WOS Athletic Director Hiawatha Hickman was the mentor this team needed. His strong leadership skills put him on the radar of the Southeast Texas Coaches Association, which selected the Silsbee High Graduate as the 2025 SETCA Coach of the Year.
"I found out about the award from the members of the coaches association a few weeks ago, after the state game," Hickman said. "It always feels good to be honored by your peers. It's special because it comes from others in the profession." A profession that the McMurry and Lamar University alum has dedicated 25 years to.
The Southeast Texas native started his career at Silsbee High School, and after a 15-year stint with the Tigers, he joined the Mustang Family in 2016. In 2021, he was named Athletic Director and Head Football Coach at WOS, the 4th in the district's history.
Hickman hopes that his receiving this award will remind his players to always put the team first.
"The players and coaches were excited for me because they know how much time we put into the season," he said. "You will have team success, and that brings all the individual awards."