Early to rise and eager to practice, the Rangers have kicked off the 2025-2026 sports season. The cross-country team is already going the distance with their first two meets, tennis hit strong at their opening match, and water polo is making a splash as they push through their mid-season, dominated by wins. The season opener for football is just around the corner, with a matchup against Hebron on August 29. Jesuit athletes have been training all summer, and coaches have been planning on their best season strategies, so get your J’s up Rangers, as the 2025-26 season is expected to be “bigger and better,” with heated rivalries and iconic matchups in store.
At the helm of Jesuit Athletics is Athletic Director Kyle Herrema, who oversees the personnel and operations of all 22 high school varsity programs and 48 teams, comprising over 800 athletes. On August 18, Herrema hosted a “Welcome to Jesuit Athletics” parent meeting in the Terry Center, where he shared important information and expectations for the upcoming year to new Jesuit families, including an overview on Jesuit’s impressive strength and conditioning program. The excitement surrounding Herrema’s experience, organization, ideas, and plans to elevate Jesuit Athletics is palpable on campus. For example, over summer, the Ranger Stadium and Walsh Gym were revitalized with a bold new Jesuit shield and the motto “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.”
Throughout the past year, Herrema attended numerous Jesuit sporting events and even traveled to some state meets to observe the athletes. Although he may not be aware, several Jesuit dads even mentioned hearing high praise for Herrema from another Texas coach on the national radio station, 98.3 The Ticket, shortly after he was named the Athletic Director at Jesuit.
As we kick off this year of sports, I took some time to query Mr. Herrema to gain some insight into what we can expect for this next year.
Q: What is your vision for Jesuit athletics going into the upcoming 2025-26 season?
A: “My vision for the athletic department is to build a championship-caliber program that is rooted in Jesuit values. We want to create an environment where every athlete is challenged to grow as a competitor, a teammate, and a man for others.”
Q: I’ve noticed the high level of detail that you have given to the Jesuit brand both on-site and on social media. It looks great! Branding is very important for recruitment. What brand identity are you focused on giving to Jesuit athletics?
A: “We want the Jesuit shield to be instantly recognized across the DFW Metroplex as a symbol of excellence both in the classroom and on the field. By enhancing our branding through on-campus signage and expanding our social media presence, we aim to position Jesuit as the premier destination for families seeking a first-class academic and athletic experience.”
Q: One of my favorite quotes about athletes is attributed to Nick Saban, once saying “Mediocre people don’t like high achievers, and high achievers don’t like mediocre people.” This quote is about team success where everyone must buy into the same standard – showing up, taking their responsibilities seriously, and trying their hardest. What is your favorite quote or inspiration for us Jesuit athletes?
A: “I went to high school in Alabama and have always been a huge fan of the Tide and Coach Saban, so that quote really resonates with me. Personally, I’ve always admired the culture of the Spurs under Coach Gregg Popovich. One quote from him that’s always stood out to me is: ‘The measure of who we are is how we react to something that doesn’t go our way.’ We are all going to fail at some point, it is our response to that failure [that] will be telling of the man we truly are.”
Q: Although I am sure you are equally excited to see every sport this year, what are a couple that you expect to be pretty successful this year?
A: “What’s truly remarkable about Jesuit Athletics is that every program made the playoffs last year, with many making deep postseason runs. Based on last year’s results and returning talent, I expect golf, lacrosse, rugby, swimming, baseball, and volleyball to have particularly strong seasons but honestly, you could make a case for nearly every program to thrive this year.”
Thank you to Mr. Herrema for this valuable insight!
Sports fans, stay tuned for more season coverage of Jesuit sports through The Roundup. If you are interested in contributing to the success of Jesuit Athletics through writing for The Roundup, please reach out to one of the sports editors, Drew Shippey ’27 or Owen Maynor ’27, via RangerNet.
