Atascocita High School Celebrates Coaching Legacy and Baseball Hero with Pep Rally Honors
The spring sports pep rally at Atascocita High School turned into a celebration of two beloved school figures - retired football coach Craig Stump and former baseball star Brice Matthews, who now plays for the Houston Astros. The evening marked a special recognition for Coach Stump's 37-year coaching career, during which he built the Eagles into one of the top programs in the Houston area.
Coach Stump spent 14 years at Atascocita, leading the team to seven regional finals appearances over nine years. His impact on the school and its athletes extends far beyond his impressive record, as countless players have credited him with teaching them valuable life lessons that they continue to apply today. "When I decided to retire after 37 years, I had people reaching out to me from all over, saying how what we learned in the program has helped them in their jobs or families," he reflected on his legacy.
Meanwhile, Brice Matthews, a dual-sport athlete who graduated from Atascocita in 2019, was honored with the retirement of his number three jersey by the school's baseball program. A first-round pick by the Astros and current star player, Matthews is humbled by the recognition, saying it "takes the cake." He expressed his gratitude to Coach Stump and the football team for their support, adding that seeing his jersey up on display was "crazy" - a testament to the strong bond between athletes in different sports.
The pep rally marked a fitting tribute to these two Atascocita legends, as the school's spring sports teams celebrated their achievements and honored the coaches who have guided them.
The spring sports pep rally at Atascocita High School turned into a celebration of two beloved school figures - retired football coach Craig Stump and former baseball star Brice Matthews, who now plays for the Houston Astros. The evening marked a special recognition for Coach Stump's 37-year coaching career, during which he built the Eagles into one of the top programs in the Houston area.
Coach Stump spent 14 years at Atascocita, leading the team to seven regional finals appearances over nine years. His impact on the school and its athletes extends far beyond his impressive record, as countless players have credited him with teaching them valuable life lessons that they continue to apply today. "When I decided to retire after 37 years, I had people reaching out to me from all over, saying how what we learned in the program has helped them in their jobs or families," he reflected on his legacy.
Meanwhile, Brice Matthews, a dual-sport athlete who graduated from Atascocita in 2019, was honored with the retirement of his number three jersey by the school's baseball program. A first-round pick by the Astros and current star player, Matthews is humbled by the recognition, saying it "takes the cake." He expressed his gratitude to Coach Stump and the football team for their support, adding that seeing his jersey up on display was "crazy" - a testament to the strong bond between athletes in different sports.
The pep rally marked a fitting tribute to these two Atascocita legends, as the school's spring sports teams celebrated their achievements and honored the coaches who have guided them.
! Coach Craig Stump is literally a legend on the field and in life 
. I mean, 37 years of coaching? That's dedication 
! And for Brice Matthews to have his jersey retired? Talk about a dream come true 
. These athletes are not just winners, they're role models too 
. The fact that Coach Stump is still getting love from his players after all these years speaks volumes about the impact he had on their lives 
. I'm sending major props to both Coach Stump and Brice Matthews! #TeamAtascocita #CoachStump #BriceMatthews #PepRally #AthleticLegends #Inspiration
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I'm getting chills just reading this. And Brice Matthews' jersey retirement is just another level of amazing I mean, he's already an Astros star but to have his number retired by the school it's like a dream come true 
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. And Brice Matthews is pretty cool too 
, it's awesome that he's still connected to our school and we can see how far he's come 
. The pep rally was def a great way to celebrate their legacies 
. Coach Stump's legacy is so much more than just a winning record, it's about all the life lessons he taught those kids that helped shape them into awesome adults. And for Brice Matthews to be honored with his jersey retirement? That's just incredible! 
. Can't they just focus on the future instead of celebrating what's already happened? And seriously, seven regional finals appearances in nine years? That's cute, but where are the stats on how many actual championships they won? You know, some real numbers to back it up 
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. I love that they retired his jersey and it's so sweet that he's grateful for Coach Stump's support. This pep rally was definitely a celebration of the power of sports to bring people together 
. It shows that the relationships and values he instilled during his time at Atascocita are still cherished by athletes today. I think it's beautiful to see how sports can bring people together and create lasting bonds between coaches, players, and teammates 
& seeing his jersey retired is like, totally iconic 