Lonnie Jordan at LHHS. Photo by Danny Fulgencio.
Lonnie Jordan will become Plano ISD’s new athletic director, the school district announced Tuesday. Jordan served as head football coach and athletic coordinator for Lake Highlands before retiring from coaching to join Highland Park ISD as athletic director in 2023.
“I am extremely excited to join the Plano ISD family,” Jordan said in a press release. “I look forward to working with coaches, athletes, administration and the community to continue the great work that has been started. I genuinely want to support our coaches as we build programs that provide great experiences for all athletes and compete at the highest levels. Plano ISD has a proud athletic tradition and I look forward to embracing that history as we move forward to accomplish new and exciting things.”
“A lot of the success at Lake Highlands can be credited to his leadership,” said Joe Duffield, state championship-winning basketball coach, when Jordan departed LHHS last year. “He’s of the utmost character. Working under him, you want to meet that standard and do things the right way and treat people the right way. He’s been a big role model to me — even back when we were coaching football together.”
Jordan replaces Jeff Smith, another former Lake Highlands football coach, who will move from Plano ISD to become athletic director for Prosper schools. Smith left his role as Lake Highlands football defensive coordinator in 2010 to become head coach for McKinney High, then served as assistant athletic director for Prosper before shifting to Plano ISD.
“Jeff Smith has been an invaluable member of our Plano ISD leadership team,” Plano ISD superintendent Theresa Williams said in a statement. “He truly has a servant’s heart and his work will leave a historic impact mark benefiting our programs and athletes for years to come.”
Kelli, Jake, Alli and Jeff Smith. Photo courtesy of Jeff Smith.
