At a special meeting called on Tuesday, May 17, the Board of Trustees approved the hiring of Barry Norton to the position of director of athletics for Birdville ISD. He is replacing Chris Feris who has taken a similar position in Conroe ISD. 

Norton has been the athletic director and head football coach at Texarkana Arkansas School District since 2017. Before Texarkana, Norton was executive director of athletics and head football coach at Texarkana ISD from 1999–2017, offensive coordinator at West Orange-Cove CISD from 1995–99, offensive coordinator at Lufkin ISD from 1994–95, and worked in other coaching positions from 1990–94. 

He has many achievements as a coach, including: 

• District Coach of the Year (13 times) 
• Texas Division 1-4A football state championship in 2002 
• Texas Sports Writers Association 4A Coach of the Year in 2002 

• NIKE Coach of the Year in 2002 
• Arkansas 5A track state championship in 2017 and 2021 
• Texas 5A track state champion in 2014 
• Texas 5A baseball state championship in 2008 
• Texas 4A swimming state champion in 2003 

• Arkansas state bowling championship in 2002 

Norton received his bachelor’s degree from East Texas State University.