Photo Courtesy of Coach Eli Reinhart, Hutto High School
New Hutto Head Coach Eli Reinhart has seen the Promised Land.
As the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for North Crowley in the DFW area, Reinhart helped lead the powerful Panthers to a 42-2 overall record over the past three years; a run that included an undefeated 16-0 season last year and a 6A Division state championship wipeout of Westlake. That impressive run caught the attention of Hutto Athletic Director Will Compton, who led the Hippos last season and helped bring Reinhart back to the Austin area after assuming the AD position at Hutto.
Born in Seoul, South Korea, Reinhart grew up in Montrose, Michigan where he played high school ball at Montrose High School for his dad, Dennis Reinhart. He went on to play wide receiver at Concordia University of Ann Arbor, then transferred to Saginaw Valley State University where he also played baseball.
After his playing days ended, Reinhart served for five years as the offensive coordinator for his dad at Montrose while he finished his undergraduate studies. College stints soon followed, as he coached wide receivers at Ferris State University then became the offensive coordinator at Saginaw Valley State University at the ripe old age of 24. Additional stops at Northwood University and Central Michigan University rounded out his time at the collegiate level.
Reinhart moved to Texas and became Anderson’s offensive coordinator in 2021 where, in a preview of things to come, his Trojans averaged just under 34 points per game. Following a wholesale coaching staff change at Anderson, the well-travelled Reinhart landed at North Crowley. After averaging 40.5 points-per-game in 2022, the Panthers’ scoring numbers spiked to 52.5 and 53.7 PPG the last two seasons.
While those numbers and last year’s state title undoubtedly piqued Compton’s attention, there were off the field factors at play when Reinhart decided to return to the Austin area, this time as the top guy.
“The things that attracted me the most to Hutto started with our leadership in the district. Our Superintendent, Jeni Neatherlin, played a huge role in my interest for this job,” Reinhart declares. “I wanted to be somewhere that valued athletics as part of the educational process for young student athletes and understood the importance it plays in so many kids' lives.
“After that I, was really excited to be in a one horse or smaller school district where the community really rallies around the athletic programs.”
Despite plans for a second Hutto ISD high school, the community still lives for its Hippos as evidenced by the massive and ongoing Hutto High School renovation program -- and is eager to see if Reinhart can guide the Hippos into the ranks of the area’s elite programs.
With redistricting on the horizon for 2026, Reinhart’s Hippo squad will compete this year in a deep and crowded nine-team District 25-6A that includes not only defending 6A DII champion Vandegrift, but seven other tough teams that are capable of winning on any given night.
Reinhart is well aware of the hornets nest he’s stepping into.
“My expectations this year are to compete and get better every single week and every time we have a chance to step on the field. This year lays the groundwork and the foundation for what is to come with this program,” he states pragmatically.
“I want Hutto to be one of the top programs in Central Texas and eventually the state. This is going to take a lot of hard work and dedication, but we have the kids to make it happen.”
