John G. Polanco III
Austin,TX
Summary
Mission-driven education and communications leader with 20+ years of experience fostering individual growth, building high-performing teams, and executing strategic programs in high-profile institutional settings — including UT Austin, AISD, and Eanes ISD. Proven success as both a teacher and athletic coach — demonstrating ability to lead cross-functional teams, execute large-scale initiatives, and engage diverse stakeholder communities — from students and families to senior leadership, faculty, and community partners. A collaborative, people-first leader with deep roots at UT Austin, AISD, and Eanes ISD, eager to translate a career of impact into an administrative or operations role at the collegiate level.
Overview
1
1
Certification
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Educator / Asst. Head Men's Basketball Coach / Athletic Communications Administrator
Eanes Independent School District
Austin, TX
01.2014 - Current
- Successful, secondary leadership, coordination and organizational management in Biology and Athletic Department for a 2800+ student body in a top-10 nationally and state national ranked school district
- Lead academic and athletic program support initiatives; contributed to a 363-64 record past 12 years; 4 UIL State Tournament appearances since 2018, with State Finalist appearances in 2022 and 2026 — demonstrating sustained organizational excellence
- Managed and optimized digital content for Westlake Nation, coordinating and executing comprehensive community outreach, including digital management of social platform, Westlake Chaparral Basketball Instagram @chapbasketball
- Coordinate strategic communications and operations across multiple stakeholder groups — students, administrators, families, media, and community partners — to execute large-scale events including campus events, athletic competitions, travel arrangements, and award ceremonies
- Manage and utilize educational platforms, including Google Classroom and Canvas, to coordinate course content, communications, and student engagement, demonstrating fluency with digital tools
Educator / Head & Assistant Men's Basketball Coach / Athletics Coach
Austin Independent School District (AISD)
Austin, TX
09.2003 - 08.2014
- Developed and delivered curriculum and instruction, outreach materials, and program content for multiple campuses (Reagan, Johnston (Eastside Memorial), Crockett High Schools), coordinating messaging with faculty, administration, and community partners
- Directed academic and athletic programming/support for diverse student populations at each campus, demonstrating the ability to engage a wide range of internal and external audiences in a complex institutional environment
- Partnered with UTeach (UT Austin's teacher preparation program) facilitating collaborative curriculum and outreach initiatives with university stakeholders
Fitness Director
YMCA of Austin
Austin, TX
02.2001 - 09.2003
- Managed all operations and communications for a 50+ staff fitness department, including program marketing, member engagement, staff onboarding, and organizational messaging.
- Planned and executed outreach events and wellness campaigns, coordinating cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality member experiences and meet satisfaction goals.
- Developed and implemented fitness programs tailored to diverse community needs.
Assistant Director — Health Management Department
Coca-Cola Company / The Minute Maid Division
Houston, TX
01.1998 - 08.2000
- Supported leadership and communications for a company-wide health management program serving 700+ associates, developing product health & wellness campaigns that increased brand awareness through company and city-wide outreach
- Planned and executed multi-platform campaigns encompassing cognitive, physical, social, and educational wellness — demonstrating early experience with audience segmentation, content development, and cross-channel communications strategy
- Developed and implemented strategic initiatives to drive market growth and brand visibility.
Education
Master of Education (M.Ed.) - Sport Management
University of Texas At Austin
Austin, TX12-2020
Postgraduate Teaching Certificate - Health Education
Texas State University
San Marcos, TX12-2002
Bachelor of Science - Kinesiology; Minor in Health
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX12-1996
Skills
- Leadership Development
- Team Building
- Student - Athlete Development
- Strategic Planning
- Brand Alignment & Program Management
- Event & Facility Operations
- Event Communications Management
- Revenue Generation
- Culture Creation
- Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration
- Web Content Development
Affiliations
- Westlake High School Golden Apple Educator Award Nominee (2021-2023, 2025, 2026)
- Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Assistant Coach of the Year Nomination 2022
- Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, UT Austin | Mar. 2020 – Present
- Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA) | Member (2004 – Present)
- Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) | Member/Conference (2004 – Present)
- National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) | Member (2018 – 2022)
- Playing the Long Game: Symposium on the Future of Sports Industry, Univ. of Texas at Austin (2021,2022)
- Basketball Camp Mentor/Instructor: St. Edward's University (2018, 2019, 2022); ProCamps Kevin Durant (2011, 2016, 2017); University of Texas at Austin (2007–2012)
Certification
- Secondary Life Sciences
- Secondary Health Education
- Secondary Physical Education
Timeline
Educator / Asst. Head Men's Basketball Coach / Athletic Communications Administrator
Eanes Independent School District
01.2014 - Current
Educator / Head & Assistant Men's Basketball Coach / Athletics Coach
Austin Independent School District (AISD)
09.2003 - 08.2014
Fitness Director
YMCA of Austin
02.2001 - 09.2003
Assistant Director — Health Management Department
Coca-Cola Company / The Minute Maid Division
01.1998 - 08.2000
Master of Education (M.Ed.) - Sport Management
University of Texas At Austin
Postgraduate Teaching Certificate - Health Education
Texas State University
Bachelor of Science - Kinesiology; Minor in Health
Sam Houston State University