FAMILY TRADITION
Katy’s coach and his wife rebuilt their Harvey-damaged home during the season. The Tigers simply reloaded
A close-knit group sat in the north end zone of NRG Stadium on Saturday afternoon. They proudly sported their bright red gear for the Katy Tigers, who were playing North Shore in the Class 6A Division I regional final.
Among the group, perched just above where the Tigers ran through their crash poster before the game, were the family members of the Katy coaching staff. Wives, parents, children — plus close friends — who have sat through countless football games over the years.
Right in the center of the crew, with granddaughter Austin sitting on her knee, was Sheila Joseph.
Her husband, Gary, who has coached the Tigers for 13 seasons, was busy doing his job. He’d been here before. Lots of times.
Since taking over the team in 2004, Gary — who was inducted into the Texas High School Hall of Fame last year — has four state championships and three 16-0 seasons.
Through every title, every win, every game, Sheila has been in the stands cheering on the team. She has been on every roller-coaster ride — the dramatic finishes, the heartbreaking losses, the many triumphs — and loved every moment of it.
Every time Katy makes it a few rounds into the playoffs is exciting for Sheila and the rest of the Joseph family. This year might be even more special. While it has become normal for the Tigers to be one of the state’s elite teams playing deep into December, this season has been far from normal for the Josephs. Like so many others affected by Hurricane Harvey’s devastation and flooding in August, Sheila and Gary faced massive damage to their home.
After eight inches of water filled their house in Katy days before the football season was set to start, they moved out and started to rebuild. A friend lent them an RV, and Sheila and Gary moved into the small space while they worked on getting back into shape the home they built together and shared for more than two decades.
Assistants pitch in
The first couple weeks, while the season was halted, assistant coaches helped the Josephs with cleanup and tearing out sheetrock. All the while, Gary stayed focused on football and the impending season.
A small room in the back of the RV became a TV cove where Gary could watch film, study plays, and work on his team.
While leading the Tigers to an undefeated record, Gary also worked on rebuilding his house. After months of repairs, the Josephs moved back in just before Thanksgiving.
They aren’t quite finished with everything, but they’re close. And they are oh so happy to be back home, especially during one of the most exciting times of the year.
Sheila loves the postseason. She watches every play closely while managing to interact with the several young children around her who ask for goldfish crackers and fruit snacks between plays.
A few former Katy players, including Ryan Mouton, sought her out Saturday to catch up. She has kept in touch with so many over the years.
Sheila isn’t on the field calling plays, but she’s a huge part of the Katy football program. She interacts with the players, their families, and the entire Katy staff. She’s calm, kind and extremely approachable.
Her sons Jon and Jeff stand and watch the game from the field, while daughter Julie tends to Austin, who will turn 2 on Christmas Day. She was born days after Katy won its last state title in 2015.
Austin already understands what’s happening around her. She can point out several Katy players on the field and knows what they are supposed to do. She yells “kick it” when the field-goal unit trots onto the field.
The other coaches’ kids, ranging from 3-yearold twin girls to a 5-year-old boy who plays with matchbox cars during halftime, all watch the game and are thrilled when the Tigers gain a first down. They’re on their feet and high-fiving and squealing after every touchdown.
Dominant victory
Gary’s parents sat behind Sheila on Saturday. His father, legendary high school football coach Eddie Joseph, grinned as he watched Katy dominate en route to a 31-3 win.
When the game ended, the families headed to the field. Austin ran full force toward her grandfather for a celebratory hug before joining the team to hold hands and sing the school song. Gary and Sheila shared a quick hug and kiss before he greeted the rest of his family. He then headed back to the locker room to celebrate with his team and pack up for the trek back to the suburb west of Houston.
Every game is so much more than a game to this football family. It’s something they’ve shared for so many years, something that has brought them together.
Playing every week in the high school football playoffs is how the Josephs prefer to spend their holidays together. They rarely have any Christmas decorations up by now, but Sheila put up a tree early this year. She usually doesn’t until the Tigers’ run is over.
The tree is sparse – there are a few lights, no ornaments and a Mickey Mouse topper. She wanted to have something up for her granddaughter. And she wanted the lights to shine through the living room window of their newly rebuilt house.
Things are almost back to normal for the Josephs since the devastation of Harvey. They are back home, and Katy is headed to the state semifinals.
2017 has had its rough spots, but Sheila is focusing on the good: her family, her home and the Katy Tigers.
And hopefully, another state championship.