Texas high school football coach, wife killed in crash days before 2026 season

A fatal car crash in Texas has claimed the lives of a high school football coach and his wife. East Bernard ISD athletic director and head football coach Jeremy Jenkins and his wife, Brandy Jenkins, a teacher at East Bernard Junior High School, were killed Saturday night, Aug. 15, in a single-vehicle crash. According to Texas Department of Public Safety, at approximately 10:07 p.m., a 2025 Tesla Model Y was traveling northbound on State Highway 60, approaching a curve. The vehicle didn't recognize the curve and left the roadway to the east and overturned. Jeremy, 51, and Brandy, 46 were pronounced dead at the scene. The deaths come less than a week after the new school year commenced, with East Bernard ISD students returning for the 2026-27 school year on Wednesday, Aug. 12. Superintendent Courtney Hudgins put out a statement on Sunday, Aug. 16, mourning the victims. "Jeremy and Brandy were much more than their titles or the roles they held within our schools," Hudgins wrote in a letter to families. "They were colleagues, educators, mentors, friends, and family. "East Bernard has always been a place where people show up for one another, and now is a time when that love and support are needed more than ever. In the days ahead, we will need to lean on one another with love, patience, compassion, and grace." Jenkins was set to enter his third year as the head coach of the Brahmas football team, coaching the program to a 20-7 record in his first two seasons. The team is set to play their first contest against Sweeny (TX) on Aug. 28. East Bernard ISD will have on-site counseling and support services available for students and staff. The Jenkins' family leaves behind three sons: Tyson, Gage and Jake. Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X at @NP_AlexMartin or via email: amartin@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow USA TODAY High School Sports on Instagram and X. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas high school football coach, wife killed in crash days before 2026 season