January 7, 2025 (press release) –
Photo courtesy of the University of Houston
“There are two types of coaches: coaches that have never been fired, and coaches that haven’t been fired yet,” Tony likes to say. “For 19 years, I was the first.”
After back-to-back eight-win seasons and leading the team to two January bowl games, Tony was let go after the 2014 season. When he lost his job, their four children were nine, seven, five and three years old.
As a coach, Tony slept in his office Monday through Thursday night, traveled constantly for games and recruiting, and spent countless hours on the phone. His kids were entering ages when they were participating in music lessons, recreational sports and dance recitals. He never had a chance to attend any.
Tony and Erin discussed what they wanted to do and whatever it was, they felt strongly about three things:
• Can I balance work and family?
• Can we stay and raise our family in Houston?
• Can I do what I’m passionate about in growing and developing people?
Three weeks after he was let go at Houston, Tony submitted his interest in becoming a Chick-fil-A Owner-Operator.
The decision to stay in Houston
During the interview process, Tony shared after moving several times for his football career, his family felt happy and settled in Houston.
He requested to only be considered if Chick-fil-A built a restaurant in southwest Houston. After a year in the Operator selection process, Tony received a call that one would be coming to Missouri City, the suburb where they had lived for 10 years. During the months of waiting, he joined the coaching staff at Western Kentucky, which preceded a move nine months later to Purdue. Two and a half years after submitting his expression of interest, Tony was selected to become an Owner-Operator.
Similarities between coaching football and operating a Chick-fil-A Restaurant
His first restaurant, Chick-fil-A Sienna Crossing, opened in May 2018. Tony’s focus to this day is on two things: his team and his community.
“We have 78 Team Members who have been here two years or more; 29 since the restaurant opened in 2018,” Tony said. “When people ask our Team Members why they’ve been here for so many years, one of the things they talk about is the care they receive. It’s one of my favorite Chick-fil-A quotes: ‘Cared for people, care for people.’”
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