HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) – Long-time Harlingen head football coach Jesse Longhofer left a legacy that will stand the test of time in the Rio Grande Valley.
The 1994 Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame Inductee passed away on March 31 at the age of 88.
Jesse’s love for the game of football began at Donna High School. He was a three-sport athlete and captain of the Redskin football team that advanced to the fourth round of the playoffs in 1951.
Following his high school career, Longhofer wanted to play collegiately.
Kathy Longhofer, his widow, said, “He wanted to be a coach, but he just didn’t have the means to go to college, so he and a friend drove to Benavides where his high school coach was coaching. He asked him to help them get a scholarship, so he called the coach at Victoria Junior College, Rusty Russell, and he invited them to come try out.”
Jesse’s friend would only stay three days at Victoria Junior College, but Longhofer stayed. From there, Jesse transferred to Texas A&I, now Texas A&M-Kingsville, where he helped the Javelina program capture its first NAIA title in 1959 as co-captain.
After a brief coaching stint in Uvalde, he and Kathy came to Harlingen. He started off as the defensive coordinator in 1964 before becoming the Cardinals head coach from 1971-1975 and 1985-1992.
Kathy recalled, “Harlingen had not won a district championship in over 20 years if you can believe that. When we went to the games, the stands were pretty empty, and when they started winning, those stands filled fast.”
Longhofer would go on to win 108 games, win eight district titles, be a three-time RGV Coach of the Year and lead Harlingen to the state quarterfinals in 1989.
Between his coaching stints, Longhofer served as the Athletic Director. He was the catalyst in establishing a premier athletic program for girls within the Harlingen CISD once Title IX swept across the country. Jesse’s vision was clear: to elevate Harlingen’s Girls’ Athletics to unparalleled heights of excellence, a goal he passionately pursued and successfully achieved.
Aside from his success, Longhofer was a man of principle. He never cut a member of his football team, and seeing his athletes succeed in the next stages of their lives brought him the most joy.
Manny Gomez, current Harlingen head football coach and member of the 1989 state quarterfinal team, said, “Greatness is what Coach Longhofer always expected, and that to me is the way I’ve always tried to run this place.”
Scott Swinnea, another member of the 1989 state quarterfinal team, added, “After talking with Coach Longhofer over the years, he was just so proud of all his players.”
When the news broke of Longhofer’s passing, it was a surreal moment for all of his former assistants and players.
Gomez remembered he was at church for Easter Sunday when Clayton Cretors, Harlingen head basketball coach, texted him of his passing.
Manny said, “You see a father figure pass away, and you think those people live forever. He had such a tremendous impact on my life.”
As mentioned, Longhofer was inducted into the RGV Sports Hall of Fame back in 1994. Kathy remembered it being the highlight of Jesse’s coaching career.
She also stated, “Our son David was also inducted in 2022, so they have that distinction of being one of the few father-son combos. That meant a lot to him.”
Like many coaches, Longhofer never took the credit he well-deserved. However, the Harlingen community knows he is a staple in the history of the football program.
“There’s no comparison to the amount of wins that Coach Longhofer had,” Gomez said. “When I got the job, I wanted to be, I wanted to coach and I wanted to approach things like Coach Longhofer did.”
Services will be held Wednesday, April 24.
A scholarship honoring Coach Longhofer has also been set up at Harlingen High School. Donations may be sent in care of the Bookkeeper at 1201 E. Marshall, Harlingen, TX 78550.
