FORT WORTH, Texas – When you’re the starting quarterback for a program that’s won 11 state championships, everyone knows your name. But do you know the story of Aledo starting quarterback Hauss Hejny? You’re about to. And as you’ll learn, his football journey began on the campus of Texas Christian University.

What You Need To Know

  • Hauss Hejny is the starting quarterback for the Aledo Bearcats

  • Last season, as a junior, he helped lead Aledo to its 11th state championship

  • Hauss is a 2023 Elite 11 Finalist, an honor given to the 11 best high school quarterbacks in the country

  • Hauss’ parents, Jesse and JimAnne, are both former TCU athletes and met during their time as Horned Frogs

“To be the quarterback of the Aledo Bearcats is a blessing,” Hauss said. “There’s not a lot of teams out there who have won 11 state championships in a town like this. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” 

Hauss knows where home is. It’s on a football field. His roots, however, run deeper than the turf at Bearcat Stadium. 

“Both my parents met in study hall at TCU,” he said. “My mom slipped my dad her number and it went from there. They started dating, they had me when they were still in college. I grew up in the TCU training room.”

“They would tape up his ankles and hand him a purple mouthpiece to chew on,” said Hauss’ father, Jesse Hejny. “And then Coach Patterson used to have him in his office to eat peanut M&M’s. I do remember that.”

Both the Hejnys were athletes for the Horned Frogs. Hauss’ mother, JimAnne, was a track star and basketball player while Jesse played defensive end for head coach Gary Patterson. Hauss had the opportunity to commit elsewhere, but he knew deep down he bleeds purple. 

“It’s just cool to look back on 17 years ago, I was wearing TCU threads. And now, 17 years later, I’m still going to be wearing the TCU threads,” said Hauss. “I would do anything for this school. When I go out there and strap the pads on, I’m going to lay it out on the line. Like I was watching Max Duggan [this past season] and I would do the same thing.”

Love just isn’t a strong enough word for Hauss when it comes to football.

“Right after they won the state championship, [Hauss] woke up the next morning and felt like sad,” said Jesse. “He’s like, ‘Dad, I don’t know how to explain it but not getting up the next morning to work and preparing to win the next game was just sad.’ Winning felt good for him in a moment in time. But he enjoys the process much more.”

“He’s a special athlete,” said Aledo head coach Robby Jones. “He’s got sprinter speed and he’s also got the arm of a great quarterback.”

Hauss’ undeniable speed can be traced back to his mother.

“A lot of people come up to me and ask where his speed comes from,” said JimAnne. “And I just say he’s gifted. He’s got a God-gifted talent. I won’t take all the credit for it. But I'll take a little bit of that.”

Coach Jones further expressed how Hauss has improved his game since the conclusion of last season. 

“Without Coach Jones, my teammates, my quarterback coach, without my dad pouring all this money into my success, I mean I would have to mess it up to not be where I am,” Hauss said.