Married to Allyssa for 11 years, Nate Russ is a proud football dad with three boys currently within the program. He has lived in Salado since 2017. He currently coaches and serves within multiple sports programs and fundraising committees in our community. Coach Russ’ main focus for his athletes will be discipline, humility, and effort. He strives to teach the boys the value found in doing hard things and the realization that they are capable of more than they realize. 

Max effort requires no talent!

GO EAGLES!

Boyd DeZonia is married to his amazing wife Loni and they are the proud parents of three children, Aerilynn, Colton, and Atreus. While they are transplants from Scottsdale, AZ, they moved to Salado in January 2021 to raise their kids within a community. Boyd has a passion for coaching and it has been a big part of his life, both in his career and with his family.

Coach DeZonia was on the field the last two years assisting the 10u and 12u football teams and this will be the third year within the program. The focus on developing young leaders has truly resonated with him and he is excited to take a more active role. 

Coach DeZonia's main focus will be to create a team with a winning mindset. What a winning mindset is, be coachable and eager to learn, remain positive when facing adversity, support and build-up those around you, and look at losses as learning opportunities, not failures.

Coach Alan Ellis is a devoted husband and father of three: Aydan (17), Masyn (13), and Westyn (11). His family moved to Salado in February 2024 and this will be his second season coaching in the Salado youth football league. He and his family love it here and are proud to be a part of the eagle family and SEDNA. 

A lifelong lover of the game, he believes football is more than just a sport – it is a powerful metaphor for life: it challenges, teamwork, perseverance, and the strength to get back up after being knocked down. He has a deep passion for mentoring young boys into strong young men-future husbands, fathers, and leaders in the community. 

Coach Ellis began coaching in 1993 in North Carolina, which included experience in college, high school, middle school and coaching his own children. Coach Ellis, deeply rooted in his faith, believes this is not only a great opportunity to coach here, but it is part of his purpose.

GO EAGLES! 

Coach Billy Lewis is first and foremost a child of God who owes everything to his lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Married for 14 years to his wife Crystal, he has 5 beautiful children who endured multiple moves thanks to the Army. He is a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma where he played High School football at Tulsa Union. 

 It is with humility and gratitude that he serves in a position that allows him to help develop the future of Salado football. As a former collegiate student athlete who graduated from Oklahoma State University, he brings a wealth of knowledge, experiences, and success gained in his home state of Oklahoma. 

 Following College, he enlisted into the U.S. Army which is what brings him to the great state of Texas. A fortified understanding of hard work and discipline gained through nearly 17 years in the Army are the cornerstones of what he hopes to solidify within his team.

 Strength and Honor, the distance between good and great is short. Strength is in the details; honor is in doing everything the right way. "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it- Matt 7:13."