The Tyler ISD Athletic Department is proud to announce Nico Hernandez as a member of the 2026 Tyler ISD Athletic Hall of Fame. Hernandez was recognized during halftime of the W.T. White vs. Tyler High football game on September 25 at CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium for his outstanding athletic career and accomplishments.
A 1996 graduate of John Tyler High School (JT), Hernandez was a two-sport star on both the football and soccer teams for the Lions.
An exceptional soccer player, Hernandez made his mark as an All-State player for the Lions. Throughout his career, he earned multiple All-Region and All-District honors before being named District Offensive Player of the Year and later District Most Valuable Player. He set the program record for single-season assists (25) as a senior.
Hernandez also achieved athletic glory on the football field, serving as both the starting kicker and punter for the John Tyler Football team, where he helped the Lions to a 5A State Championship in 1994.
Nico was equally impressive in the classroom, where he was a member of the National Honor Society and was recognized in “Who’s Who Among American High School Students.”
Following high school, Nico earned an opportunity to play Division I Soccer at Southern Methodist University (SMU). After earning a starting position for the Mustangs as a freshman, Nico helped SMU win its first-ever conference championship in 1997. That same year, he scored the game-winning goal against Creighton in the second round of the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Tournament, helping Southern Methodist advance as the tournament’s No. 3 national seed.
On December 10, 1998, Nico was involved in a life-changing automobile accident that left him paralyzed. Despite the challenges he faced, he continued to demonstrate the same courage, determination, and perseverance that defined him as a student-athlete.
Nico has remained a pillar of Tyler High School athletics by serving as the keynote speaker at the school’s football banquet and supporting future generations of student-athletes. He is also a donor, with his brother Daniel, to the annual “Daniel and Nico Hernandez Soccer Achievement Grant.”
In 2011, the Tyler High soccer program created the “Nico Hernandez Award,” presented each year to a player who demonstrates courage and overcomes adversity despite life’s obstacles.
For more information, contact Reese Lannon at Reese.Lannon@TylerISD.org.