Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey surprises Plano Senior soccer coach with $5,000 grant

Plano Senior High School boys soccer head coach Tex McCullough got an afternoon surprise when a famous former Wildcat came back to campus. Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey, who graduated from Plano Senior High, returned to his old school on Oct. 20 to give McCullough a $5,000 grant.

Aubrey came with representatives from Reliant and the Cowboys to honor McCullough through the Cowboys Class Acts powered by Reliant program, which recognizes North Texas educators for what they do for students and their communities. Cowboys mascot Rowdy and Reliant mascot Hugo joined the celebration, which included a $5,000 check presentation. McCullough also received a football and a custom jersey.

The visit had special meaning for both men. Aubrey graduated from Plano Senior High in 2013 and played soccer there before going on to play at the University of Notre Dame. Toronto FC picked him in the 2017 Major League Soccer SuperDraft. After his pro soccer career, he took an unusual path to the NFL: he switched to football, kicked for the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League and then signed with the Cowboys in 2023.

McCullough is a Plano Senior alum too. On his Plano ISD faculty page, he says he grew up in Plano, graduated from Plano Senior High in 2007 and came back to the district to teach and coach. Besides leading the boys soccer program, he teaches physical education at the school.

This story is based on original reporting by Plano Magazine, with background from McCullough's Plano ISD faculty page.