For generations, the Criss family has helped shape football at O.D. Wyatt High School, building a legacy that extends beyond wins, losses, and district titles.
It started with Willie Criss, a longtime Fort Worth ISD football coach remembered for his on-field success and his impact on young people throughout the community. Known affectionately as “Daddy Criss,” he left behind a coaching legacy carried on by his sons and now his grandsons.
Nearly four years after his death, that legacy is still growing. In 2026, his grandson Antwaun Criss is leading the Chaparrals as head coach, and the team has opened the season 6-0 – a milestone no other member of the Criss family had achieved at Wyatt.
A legacy built on more than football
Willie Criss died in 2022 at age 86. He coached at O.D. Wyatt from 1984 to 1997, becoming the school’s first African American head football coach. During his tenure, he led the Chaparrals to multiple playoff appearances and district championships…