Arlington High School and the surrounding community are grieving this week after the death of Alan Austin, a longtime educator known to generations of students simply as “Coach.”
News of his passing spread quickly through former students, colleagues, and friends, with tributes pouring in across social media as people shared memories of a man many credit with shaping their lives both in and out of the classroom.
Jack Crosier Kozack, a former student, wrote a heartfelt tribute describing Austin as one of the most influential people in his life.
Kozack recalled how Austin made school memorable through small but meaningful touches, including dressing as Santa during the holidays, offering movie-based extra credit assignments, and greeting students with warmth in the hallways every single day.
“Arlington High School was a better place because of him, and I am a better person because of him,” Kozack wrote, adding that Austin’s legacy would continue to be felt throughout what locals affectionately call Colt Country.
A Mentor Who Treated Students Like Family
Kozack shared a personal story from his senior year, when Austin asked him to write a recommendation letter supporting his nomination for the Kiwanis Teacher of the Year award through the Arlington Independent School District.
Kozack said he felt honored by the request, even though he doubted a single page could capture the full impact Austin had on the school and on his own life.
When Austin won the award, he invited Kozack to join him and his family at the celebratory luncheon, a gesture Kozack said reflected exactly who Austin was as a person.
In the original letter, Kozack wrote that Austin brought a level of joy to the hallways and classrooms that is rare in education, saying he wished there were more teachers like him. Looking back now, Kozack said he stands by those words even more firmly today.
He also revealed that just one day before learning of Austin’s passing, his own family had been reminiscing about the teacher, swapping stories and laughing over memories from both his mother’s and his own time as students in Austin’s classes, dating back to Gunn Junior High and continuing through Arlington High School.
Other community members echoed similar sentiments online. Katy O’Halloran Wells commented that she had been looking forward to her daughter Whitney having Austin as a teacher next year, a reminder of how many families across generations crossed paths with him.
Arlington High School also posted a tribute, asking how many people are lucky enough to know someone like Austin in their lifetime.
The school described him as a man with a heart for every student he taught and said it would share further details with the community soon.
In the meantime, the school invited former students and colleagues to share their own favorite memories of the man known by many names, including Coach Austin, Mr. Austin, Pops, and, to his family, simply Dad.
As tributes continue to roll in, it is clear that Austin’s impact reached far beyond any single classroom.
For decades, he served as a steady, joyful presence at Arlington High School, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, mentorship, and laughter that former students say will not be forgotten.
