Coach Jeff Ables was recognized by the University Interscholastic League in Austin for his assistance and dedication to student success, earning the 2024 UIL Sponsor Excellence Award. His focus on player development, coaching, and facility improvement has shaped the Bowie football program for 37 years.
The UIL Sponsor Excellence Award honors coaches, sponsors, and teachers who make a difference in their school communities. Coach Ables’ commitment to making sure students maintain high academic standards on and off the field has impacted athletes’ academics and extracurricular activities. Sophomore Logan Moran credits Ables for pushing him to excel on the field and in the classroom.
“Off the field, he pushes us to be leaders and to keep good grades, and on the field, he teaches us how to work hard together,” Moran said. “He’s determined to make everybody around him better, and he pushes us to a level that we didn’t know was possible.”
Under his leadership, the Bowie football team has secured over 151 total wins. His dedication to players, coaching, and team culture has led to multiple playoff appearances and district titles. Beyond the victories, he has taught kids the importance of resilience and teamwork through rigorous training during both the season and the off-season. Freshman linemen Theo Iatropoulos attributes his newfound strength and teamwork to Coach Ables’ practices.
“He’s helped our team and athletes get physically and mentally stronger,” Iatropoulos said. “His leadership has shaped our team into stronger, more disciplined players.”
As a coordinator for campus athletics, Ables has worked with other coaches, programs, faculty, and staff to ensure that student-athletes have the necessary resources. His presence on campus is more than just for coaching football, he is also a mentor, motivator, and a source of support for students.
“Coach Ables always does what is best for the kids. He supports all the athletic programs by helping coaches and athletes when needed,” varsity soccer Coach Carrie Hoffman-Howell said. “Coach Ables motivates students by showing that he cares about them, and he shows them that he believes in them.”
According to Project Play in high school sports, coaches are statistically proven to connect better with students. Coach Ables is an example of a school-employed coach who helps kids.
“He’s taught me to always give 110 percent effort, and to always show up on time with our best attitude,” senior Ryan Cormier said. “When I got injured, he and I had a meaningful conversation about every day being a new chance.”
The criteria for the UIL Sponsor Excellence Award includes a principal recommendation, UIL accomplishments of sponsor’s students over five years, and a statement indicating the staff member’s involvement in students’ extracurricular success. Coach Ables was among 14 other recipients of the award in Texas.
“Coach Ables is a true servant leader who puts kids and community first,” football coach Darren Pittman said. “He has positively affected the lives of countless young people in his career. I feel very lucky to have been coached by him and had the opportunity to work for him.”
