JESUIT DALLAS COACHING STAFF PAUL MATURI • ASSISTANT VARSITY HEAD COACH • INSIDE LINEBACKERS Coach Maturi is celebrating his 12th season at Jesuit and his 37th year in coaching. In addition to his football responsibilities, Maturi is an assistant athletic director tasked with the maintenance of the indoor and outdoor facilities at Jesuit. Coach Maturi attended Harding University, where he was a four-year letterman for the football program. Maturi began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Harding before a stint at Memphis Harding Academy. A long-time coach in the Metroplex, Maturi coached at Lake Highlands, Bishop Lynch and McKinney ISD before arriving at Jesuit. Maturi and his wife Jana have three daughters: Haley, Molly, and Jami, and have two grandsons: Luke, and Zachary.
ROYCE SLECHTA • OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR • QUARTERBACKS Slechta enters his third season mentoring the high-powered Jesuit Dallas offense, arriving at Jesuit in 2019 after nine seasons as associate head coach and offensive coordinator at Wylie H.S. Last year, the Jesuit Dallas offense ranked ninth in the area in points per game (44.5), 10th in passing (262.0 ypg) and 11th in total offense (446.3 ypg). Hunter Krepp ’22 was named the District Offensive Newcomer of the Year, and Gage Roy ’22 finished the season ranked sixth in the area with 2,714 passing yards. Throughout his 25-year career, Slechta has coached at the high school and collegiate level. He held his first position at West Texas A&M as the quarterbacks and receivers coach from 1992-97, helping the Buffaloes led the nation in total offense, passing, and scoring in 1994. Slechta also worked at Dalhart, Gainesville, Tascosa, Newman Smith and Sherman before arriving in Wylie. The Pirates captured the program’s first Class 6A bi-district title in 2018, advanced to the state semifinal in 2010, state quarterfinal in 2013, regional semifinal in 2015 and also picked up bi-district titles in 2012 and 2014. Slechta graduated from West Texas A&M in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in education with certifications in kinesiology, history, and health. He added a master’s degree in health and physical education in 1994 before beginning his professional career. Coach Slechta lives in the Metroplex with his wife Carrie and daughter Sybil.
DON WOODS • DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR • SAFETIES Woods, a two-time state championship coach and 2018 National Football Foundation Assistant High School Coach of the Year, begins his fourth season as defensive coordinator at Jesuit Dallas. Jesuit’s defense ended the 2020 regular season with three straight shutouts, blanking Berkner, 51-0, Irving, 53-0 and Richardson, 42-0 during a run that saw the Rangers hold their final five opponents to a combined 17 points. Robert Fitzgerald ’22 was named the Defensive MVP of District 7-6A, and earned TSWA All-State honors.
appearances.
Prior to his arrival at Jesuit, Woods was the defensive coordinator at Highland Park. During Woods’ seven seasons coaching the Scots, he coached 19 all-state selections and won state titles in 2016 and 2017. Woods’ career also included stops at Rockwall Heath, Mesquite John Horn and Lake Highlands. Throughout his career, Woods has coached teams to five state final four
Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in history and physical education from Austin College in 1981, Woods earned his master’s degree in education in 1982 while beginning his career as a graduate assistant for the ‘Roos during the program’s 1981 NAIA co-national championship season. Don and his wife, Elizabeth, have two sons: Clayton and Austin, who is married to the former Madeline Millender.
10 • 2021 JESUIT DALLAS FOOTBALL • BAND OF BROTHERS
