Our Coaching Philosophy
Our philosophy is to promote and create a competitive archery athletic program that caters to the needs of all AISD students. Archery is unique in the fact that it is not only one of the world’s oldest sports but it is also a sport that literally everyone can compete and participate in. We want to give students, looking for places to connect, another option. Archery is not limited to the biggest, strongest, or the fastest athletes. Archery knows no gender, no race, nor creed. Archery is a sport of discipline that requires patience, dedication, and a desire to excel. Our mission is to provide each student from across the district a safe, fun environment that promotes both school and district wide unity.
Our expectation is for every archer to perform up to their potential. Archers will have an opportunity to build relationships with students from their own campus as well as students from other campuses. We pledge to create an atmosphere of acceptance where all students feel welcome and wanted. We run our program with one motto in mind, “Live at Full Draw!” We want our students to understand that each day is a new and exciting gift and that they should do everything within their power to get the most from each. In life, much like in archery, once you have launched an arrow, it’s gone. There is nothing you can do to go back and re-shoot it so don’t worry about it. Similar can be said regarding future arrows. One cannot worry about arrows yet to be shot. Their time will come soon enough. The only thing that matters is the current arrow/current day. Total focus on the present arrow/day that you have is how we attempt to train our students.
Our expectation is for every archer to perform up to their potential. Archers will have an opportunity to build relationships with students from their own campus as well as students from other campuses. We pledge to create an atmosphere of acceptance where all students feel welcome and wanted. We run our program with one motto in mind, “Live at Full Draw!” We want our students to understand that each day is a new and exciting gift and that they should do everything within their power to get the most from each. In life, much like in archery, once you have launched an arrow, it’s gone. There is nothing you can do to go back and re-shoot it so don’t worry about it. Similar can be said regarding future arrows. One cannot worry about arrows yet to be shot. Their time will come soon enough. The only thing that matters is the current arrow/current day. Total focus on the present arrow/day that you have is how we attempt to train our students.
Alex Villanueva, Head Coach
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Coach Villanueva is entering his 22nd year with the Arlington School District. He was an assistant archery coach for six years before becoming head coach last year. Prior to joining the archery coaching staff, Coach V was a Special Education teacher. When asked, Coach Villanueva said, “I consider myself an extremely lucky individual because of the rapport I get to build with each student I work with every year.”
Archery is a sport for everyone. When Coach Villanueva looks back at the seven years that the Archery Program has been in existence, he is amazed at how most of the archers that have walked through the doors of the Archery Center, never picked up a bow. Many of these archers entered the program with the right attitude and because of this, archers from Martin High School have won six state championships and archers from five of six high schools have won scholarships at state over the years. Last year, Martin archers won state, they took first place in both male and female division, and AISD archers brought home six of the ten scholarships offered. Before Coach Villanueva moved to Arlington, he lived in Corpus Christi. He attended Mary Carroll High School and received his Bachelor’s Degree from Texas A&M Corpus Christi. Coach V is married to his wife, Brandi, and together they have three children. All three of Coach V’s children attend Arlington schools. Outside of school, Coach Villanueva and his family enjoy going to the beach, visiting amusement parks and anything else that can be done outdoors. |
Sage Johnson, Coach
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Coach Johnson is currently in his 5th year teaching and his 2nd year coaching. Along with his coaching duties he is also a Science Teacher at Martin High School.
Before coming to Arlington ISD, Coach Johnson attended South Grand Prairie High School, where he played football and basketball and developed his passion for sports. He then went on to attend UTA, where he earned his bachelor's degree. Coach Johnson is married to his wife, Kristian, and has two daughters. When offered the position of assistant coach, Coach Johnson jumped aboard after hearing about the program’s tradition of excellence. He looks forward to working with the archers and continuing the program’s rich traditions. |
Tommy Scott, Coach
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Tommy Scott is excited to be an archery instructor for AISD. After 34 years as a teacher, coach and administrator in the AISD, he retired in 2013. Coach Scott jumped at the chance to join the archery staff when called by Coach Albus. Coach Scott said. "the growth of the archery program has been huge to say the least. I am learning along with the kids and it is exciting to see them improve. I look forward to seeing them compete in the fall and spring tournaments."
Coach Scott is looking forward to supporting the program goal of defending the 2015 state championship! The thing that is intriguing to Coach Scott about archery is you can have a small female student compete against a big senior boy and the "playing field" is the same! Tommy Scott is looking forward to working with all of the AISD archery students. |
Ricky Albus, Retired Head Coach
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Coach Ricky Albus began his career with the Arlington ISD in 1994. After graduating from Burleson High School he pursued his degree at McMurry University in Abilene. Ricky Albus launched his career in education and coaching in Bastrop, Texas before heading to Arlington to be near family and coach at Martin High School from 1992-2002. From 2002-2008, he was the Head Football Coach and Athletic Coordinator at Seguin High School. Then in 2008, he returned to Martin where he served as the Assistant Football and Soccer coach.
Coach Albus has a passion for the outdoors and began teaching Archery in 2008 as part of the Outdoor Adventures class at Martin High School. In 2014, he had a vision to start an Archery Club at Martin. At the first meeting of this new group over 100 students showed up eager to participate in archery. In the film, Field of Dreams, an Iowa corn farmer hears a voice telling him: "If you build it, they will come." Ricky Albus built the AISD Archery program and he takes pride in the fact that both boys and girls have come to experience this great sport. Archery has been a full blown athletics program in AISD since the fall of 2015. The program has experienced tremendous success and growth under his leadership. MHS won the 2016 Texas state championship and placed 23rd out of 250 teams at the national tournament. The Archery Program Team motto is "Live at Full Draw." Coach Albus and this team motto encourages AISD Archers to live a life of purpose and to give their best effort in all they do. Coach Albus is a family man who resides in Arlington! He married his wife, Teresa, in 1991 and they are the proud parents of Kaeley, Nick and Cade and their son in law, Justin. They are also excited to be first-time grandparents to their granddaughter, Brynley Duncan. |