Killeen ISD’s athletic department has expanded its partnership with 360 Athletics to further enhance and strengthen the culture of excellence among athletes and coaches through a pair of initiatives: the Student-Athlete Leadership Team and Coaches Mentorship Program.
The Student-Athlete Leadership Team was introduced at the end of the 2024-2025 school year while the Coaches Mentorship Program is new this year.
These two vital programs facilitate success and growth on and off the field and enhance skill sets through structured message-based lesson plans that focus on goal-setting, accountability, overcoming adversity, leadership qualities, career advice, communication and other core values.
Both groups will attend a mixture of virtual and in-person workshops over the course of the school year, and the first meetings were held last week. Executive director for athletics Matt Carroll said those meetings set the tone for the next several months.
“We appreciate our partnership with 360 athletics and are excited to see where these next few months lead us,” Carroll said.
The Coaches Mentorship Program is aimed at connecting coaches new to KISD with experienced coaches within the district to assist in everything from navigating district expectations to sharing insights on building positive team culture, Carroll said.
Shoemaker assistant athletics coordinator for girls athletics and track and field coach Cion Hicks pursued a coaching career in part because of the positive impact coaches had on her during her time as a student-athlete with the Grey Wolves.
Now, as a veteran coach within KISD, Hicks said the Coaches Mentor Program is an ideal avenue toward “building a collaborative environment for coaches new and veteran to be supported in their efforts of positively changing the trajectory of student-athletes’ lives.”
“Many times, coaches come into education with goals that are sometimes met with challenges within the educational system. But when partnered with a coach who experienced the same struggles, this program can provide support and ideas for problem solving,” Hicks said. “I think this program can build a culture of retention and loyalty within the district, and creates a support system full of people who are united by their goals of helping student-athletes succeed.”
There are 17 coaches across the middle school and high school levels new to Killeen ISD for the 2025-2026 school year. One of the newly hired leaders is McKenzie Tysor, who just finished her first season as head coach of the Shoemaker Grey Wolves volleyball team.
“As a newcomer to KISD, I think this initiative provides an incredible opportunity for growth, connection and collaboration among coaches. Coming into a new district can sometimes feel overwhelming, but having structured support and shared professional development helps bridge that gap,” Tysor said.
Tysor said the mentor program affords coaches the platform to exchange ideas and build fortified networks across the vast district.
“This initiative also promotes consistency in the standards and expectations we set for our athletes, not just on the court or field, but in terms of leadership, character, and accountability. It gives all of us a common foundation to stand on while still allowing room for individuality in how we lead our programs,” Tysor added. “Ultimately, I see this as a way to strengthen the overall culture of athletics in KISD. When coaches are connected, supported and aligned in purpose, our student-athletes benefit the most.”
Last May, a group of 100 student-athletes (20 each –– 10 male, 10 female –– from Chaparral, Ellison, Harker Heights, Killeen and Shoemaker) participated in the pilot episode, so to speak, of the Student-Athlete Leadership Team, gathering at the Franklin & Emily Pratt Learning and Leadership Center for an interactive presentation from 360 Athletics CEO and Founder Josh Perez.
At the time, Carroll stated that he hoped the introductory conference would blossom into an ongoing effort toward cultivating strong leaders within KISD athletics.
“The Student-Athlete Leadership Team program is designed to empower our student-athletes to recognize their potential as positive forces in their communities,” Carroll said. “Through engaging team-building activities and meaningful discussions about their goals and challenges, they will develop stronger leadership skills and also build the confidence and compassion needed to make a lasting impact on and off the field.”