A Historic Appointment
Incarnate Word Academy announced the hiring of Craig E. Charlton as its Football Program Director and Head Varsity Coach, marking the start of the school’s first-ever 11‑man football program.
Charlton arrives with a three‑decade coaching résumé that includes stints across Texas, most recently as Athletic Coordinator and Head Football Coach at W.B. Ray High School, where he climbed to the fourth‑winningest coach in the school’s history.
Beyond his win total, Charlton’s mentorship has produced numerous collegiate and professional athletes, and several of his former players have gone on to become head coaches themselves, earning him a nomination for the Texas High School Coaches Association Hall of Honor.
Athletic Director Kevin Steen expressed enthusiasm about the hire, citing Charlton’s proven leadership and the excitement of launching a new varsity team that will compete as a TAPPS Independent.
The Charlton family — comprising wife Ann and their three children, Elizabeth, Katherine and Ty — will relocate to Corpus Christi as the school prepares for its inaugural season, with the first game slated for Friday, August 21, 2026, against crosstown rival St. John Paul II High School.
School officials say the program will emphasize character development and academic excellence, aiming to build a sustainable football culture that reflects the academy’s broader educational mission.