Hutto Independent School District recently announced the hiring of its new head football coach, Casey Walraven.
Walraven comes from his alma mater Alvarado High School, where he compiled a 25-2 record over the past two seasons and led the program to back-to-back state semifinal appearances.
Walraven replaces Eli Reinhart, who departed after one season to become the offensive coordinator at Grand Valley State University.
Like Reinhart, Walraven is known for his explosive offenses, as his team averaged more than 62 points per game during the 2024-25 season.
“I love challenges. I love being uncomfortable and getting better, and when the Hutto position opened I knew the administration would have elite people to work for,” Walraven said. “Hutto is a great community with great support, and I wanted to be a part of it.”
Walraven acknowledged that this opportunity presents a different challenge. He is accustomed to rebuilding programs rather than taking over a team that finished 9-3 overall and earned a share of the district championship.
“I’m usually in the rebuilding phase where you have to tear it down to build it back up,” he said. “This one is different, and I like that opportunity. This is definitely the most talent my staff and I have been around. We are excited to put our scheme together with a lot of talented kids across the board, and we feel confident in what we can do.”
Those explosive players include returning standouts Jaiden Fields and Dylan Owens, who led the receiving corps in yards and touchdowns last season. The Hippos also return their entire wide receiver group from a team that averaged more than 40 points per game.
“I want to continue that trend. They have been a great offense for the most part, and they have a tradition of that,” he said. “I’m ready for the challenge of continuing that success.”
Despite the offensive firepower Hippo Nation has grown accustomed to in recent years, Walraven is eager to focus on the defensive side of the ball, where Hutto has struggled at times. “I want to bring more defensive stability,” he said. “I am fully aware of the saying that defense wins championships. You have to play very good defense to make a run at a state championship, and that is going to be the goal.”
Walraven has also found success defensively. His units have garnered the nickname “The Gauntlet,” a reference to the Infinity Gauntlet from Avengers: Infinity War and the villain Thanos.
A light-up glove is used on the sideline to celebrate big plays and turnovers, symbolizing an aggressive, physical mindset. During the playoffs, his teams place “stones” in the glove to represent progress toward a state championship.
“I’m a firm believer in your defense having an identity,” he said. “We aren’t going to step back — we are going to attack people, and that is a reminder of who we are.”
Walraven said his teams have collected as many as four stones in a postseason run, but the ultimate goal is to gather all six — symbolizing a state championship — something he hopes to accomplish at Hutto.
The hire marks the fourth head coach at Hutto in six seasons. Walraven spoke about the importance of stability and said he sees himself in the position long term.
“I have never been one — you can look through my past,” he said. “I am at a place to get it established and for our family to become a part of it. Our intention is a full investment into this community to give it everything we possibly have and to become a Hutto Hippo.”
