Garland Sports Hall of Fame

Joe A. Allen

Joe A. Allen has been the successful head football coach of North Garland high School for 13 years, since coming to Garland in 1986. In his fourth season, in 1989, North Garland tied for the district championship with a league record of five wins and a single loss. The Raiders defeated Dallas Spruce for the bi-district title, 14-10, but lost to Lake Highlands, 42-35, in the area playoff contest, and completed the season with eight wins and four losses. In 1990, the Raiders again tied for the district championship with six victories and one loss, before they ended their 9-2 season with a 21-14 bi-district loss to Tyler Lee. North Garland for a third consecutive year in 1991 captured the district crown, taking sole possession of first place with seven wins without a loss. Again, the Raiders ended a 9-2 season with a bi-district loss, falling to John Tyler, 24-7. In his 13 years at North Garland, Coach Allen has won 48 district games, lost 40, and tied one contest, for a 53.9% winning percentage. Over the same period, his complete record is 75 wins, 58 losses, and a single tie, for a 56.3% winning percentage. Before coming to Garland, he led Electra to the Class 2A state football championship in 1985 and Wheeler to the Class A state football title in 1979. During his 23 years as a head football coach at Wheeler, Groesbeck, Electra and North Garland, Coach Allen has won 152 games, lost 65, and had two ties, for an outstanding winning percentage of 69.9%. In 1985 he coached the Texas All-Stars to a 17-0 victory over the Oklahoma All-Stars in the Oil Bowl at Wichita Falls. Allen played intercollegiate football at Navarro Junior College and North Texas State University, from which he received his bachelor's degree in 1970 and his Master of Education degree in 1972.