Decatur athletic director and football coach Steve Huff announced Thursday he was departing after four seasons to take the head football coach and athletic coordinator at Chickasha High School in Oklahoma. MICAH MCCARTNEY | WCMESSENGER
The Steve Huff era with the Decatur Eagles has drawn to a close after four seasons.
On Thursday, Huff — Decatur’s athletic director and head football coach — announced that he was departing to become the new head football coach and athletic coordinator at Chickasha High School — a 4A school in Central Oklahoma.
“First and foremost, this was a very tough decision, just because of the kids,” Huff said. “There’s great kids here, and there’s a lot of community support. But this [decision] doesn’t have anything to do with that — it has more to do with family. This just really lined up out of the blue and worked out. So we’re going to be moving a little bit north, and right now, I think that’s what we need to do.”
Huff informed his players of his decision Thursday.
“That’s probably the most sweaty bear hugs I’ve received in a long time,” Huff said. “Really, I was just worried about letting the kids know, and most of them took the new great. Some of them are probably mad, but there’s probably some that are happy I’ll be off their butts now. But all in all, they’ve been a great group of kids, and we’ve made a lot of memories together.”
Chickasha was 2-8 in its 2025 season. The Fightin’ Chicks placed sixth after going 2-5 in 4A District 2 play — behind Tuttle, Ardmore, Blanchard, Bethany and Harrah.
Huff will replace former coach Joe Molder — a Chickasha alumnus — who resigned March 27 after three seasons.
Hired in 2022 after a decade at College Station, Huff led Decatur to back-to-back 4A Division I state semifinal appearances (2022, 2023), and earned four straight playoff berths with the Eagles. He led the blue and white to a 36-18 overall record and 18-2 district record, claiming league titles in his first two campaigns.
Huff’s Eagles finished 11-4 in 15 postseason games.
“My time at Decatur has been great, and it’s so much fun to play home games here because of our fan support and our student body,” he said. “Even through some changes, our administration has been great supporting the program. As outsiders coming into town, my family and I were quickly accepted… The kids here work their tails off, and they’ve done everything we’ve asked them to do. All of the changes we’ve put them through — scheduling, hours, periods and practices — they’ve been great the whole time.”
Last season, Huff led Decatur to an 8-4 record, finishing second (5-1) in District 4-4A for the second straight season behind Springtown. The Eagles earned 4AI playoff wins against Castleberry (63-14) and Paris (49-21) before falling to perennial powerhouse and state semifinalist Celina in the 4AI Region I semifinals, 33-7.
“We were very young in key places last year,” Huff said. “There were 13 sophomores on the varsity team last year, and a lot of them played in the playoffs. Those young guys are good and talented, and going three rounds deep bodes well. Obviously, it didn’t end the way we wanted it, but that’s a really solid year to build off of.”
In 12 seasons coaching Texas high school football, Huff has amassed a 124-37 overall record (77 winning percentage). Prior to his arrival in Decatur, Huff led College Station to a 20-19 upset victory over Aledo in the 5AII state championship game in his sixth season with the Cougars.
During Huff’s tenure, Decatur’s girls athletic programs have captured four team state championships, as the Lady Eagle volleyball and girls basketball programs earned back-to-back titles under coach Stormi Snider and former coach Drew Coffman, respectively.
Decatur’s swim team also added 4A individual (Johnny Albaugh, 100 butterfly, 2024) and relay (Albaugh, Logan Fultz, Aaron Williamson, Preston Dollins, 400 freestyle, 2025) state championships, as well as a individual state title in girls powerlifting (Samantha Gam, 114 class, 2026).
Huff believes the next Decatur coach will inherit a experienced squad capable of making some noise.
“I think the future’s still very bright for whoever gets the position,” he said. “This is one heck of a job, and there’s a very special group coming up. Hopefully, it’s someone that’s familiar with the program, and can step up and take it over.”
Decatur ISD superintendent Taylor Williams said the district will post its athletic director/head football coach vacancy within the next few days.
“Coach Huff arrived at a pivotal moment for Decatur athletics and leaves our programs stronger, more unified, and consistently competitive on the state stage,” Williams said, in a press release sent to the Messenger Thursday. “His dedication to the growth of our student-athletes, both on and off the field, has left an indelible mark on our community. We wish him the very best in his next chapter.”
Along with the athletic director/head football coach position, the Decatur athletic department is also continuing to search for a new girls basketball coach after Coffman stepped down following a 4-year run to become the women’s basketball coach at Midwestern State University earlier this month.
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