Grapevine football head coach Bob DeBesse retires, says: The honor of my professional career

After 42 years of coaching, Grapevine head football coach Bob DeBesse is retiring.

DeBesse announced his retirement to administration, staff and the team on Monday morning, Nov. 11. Matt Stepp of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football first reported the news, and DeBesse confirmed it to the Star-Telegram.

“It has been the honor of my professional career to have served as a Texas High School Football Coach,” DeBesse wrote in a letter to Grapevine High School football families. “Having been the head football coach at Grapevine High School has been incredibly gratifying and deeply rewarding.”

DeBesse, also a college football coach, had stints at TCU, Minnesota, New Mexico, Georgia Southern, Purdue, Texas A&M and A&M Consolidated High School. He was the head coach of Texas State, his alma mater, from 1997 to 2002.

“Although I spent 36 years coaching at the collegiate level, the relationships and opportunity to positively impact young people take on a different meaning in high school coaching,” DeBesse wrote. “I hope I have helped to teach life lessons our Mustangs will carry with them for years to come. For me, this calling has always been about putting the players and their well-being first.”

DeBesse cited spending time with family as the reason for the retirement and mentioned his family will continue to reside in Grapevine. His last day with Grapevine-Colleyville ISD is Dec. 20; DeBesse said he will continue to support his staff and athletes as they find a replacement head football coach.

“Thank you for your incredible support over the past four seasons,” DeBesse wrote. “I will miss our staff, families and students but will forever be a Mustang!”

In 2024, Grapevine football had an off year with a 0-10 overall record and a 36-7 loss to Colleyville Heritage in the Red Rail rivalry game.

In 2023, DeBesse’s first year as Grapevine’s head coach after promotion from being offensive coordinator, the Mustangs posted a (6-5, 6-1) record, taking second place in District 4-5A D2 before falling to Frisco Emerson in the bi-district round.