Rodney Wooters - WooDoo Photo Rodney Wooters/WooDoo Photo
For head soccer coach Chris Padilla, reaching the 100th career victory mark this February was less about the scoreboard and more about the foundation of his coaching journey.
While he has upheld the high standards of the Carroll sidelines since 2021, his path to becoming only the second man to lead the program since the retirement of icon Greg Oglesby was defined by years of grit across the Texas soccer landscape.
Padilla’s experience is rooted in both the collegiate and high school ranks. A former All-Conference player at Texas Lutheran University, he transitioned into coaching as an assistant for the Bulldogs before moving to Keller Central. He later earned his first head coaching role at Harker Heights (2016–2019), where he began building the tactical reputation that eventually brought him to Carroll.
Padilla served as a key assistant under the previous Carroll staff before taking the reins himself, twice earning TASCO Region 1 Assistant Coach of the Year honors in 2020 and 2021. This period allowed him to master the "Dragon Way" while preparing to implement his own modern vision. Since being promoted, Padilla has amassed a 74–26–19 overall record at Carroll, including a dominant 43–14–13 mark in district play.
While the 2026 season saw a District 4-6A championship and another playoff run, Padilla remains focused on the human element.
“More than anything, I'm just extremely blessed to have been surrounded by so many amazing players and coaches,” Padilla said. “The constant for me has been building relationships — providing the support, encouragement and belief for players to be the best versions of themselves.”