Johnny Max Bledsoe was born on July 20, 1958, to Calvin and Nancy Bledsoe in McKinney, Texas. He was greeted by his Lord and Savior on Sunday, December 1, 2024, surrounded by his wife and three girls. He graduated from Frisco High School in 1976. He attended East Texas State University in Commerce where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and met his future wife, Brenda. Max later returned to earn his master’s degree.
Max knew in seventh grade God was calling him to be a coach when he grew up. Coach Larry Tidwell held a teaching and coaching position for Max at Frisco Middle School until he graduated in December 1979. Max and Brenda will always be grateful for that first job opportunity.
Max coached in Frisco for 30 years (even though his college coaches said to never return to your hometown to coach!) Max coached football, baseball, basketball, cross country, and softball. Max coached Varsity Girl’s Basketball at Frisco High School for 9 years and was honored as District Coach of the Year 5 times. In 1995, Max started the Girl’s Softball program at Frisco High School. He was very successful in his 15 years coaching the program. The highlight of his coaching career came in 2002 when his team won the 4A State Championship. This was the first team state championship won by a Frisco team. That year he was honored as the State Coach of the Year by the Texas Girl’s Coaches Association, Area Coach of the Year by the Dallas Morning News, Outstanding Coaches Award by Texas A&M University-Commerce and Coach of the Year by the Texas Sports Writers Association. In 2024, the 2002 State Championship team was inducted into the Frisco ISD Inaugural Athlete Hall of Honor. Max was also recently notified he was to receive the Generations of Excellence Award from Frisco ISD. During his time at Frisco High School, he had the privilege to coach all three of his daughters in softball. After 30 years in Frisco, Max moved his coaching career to Prosper High School where he retired after 5 years giving him a total of 35 years teaching and coaching.
Max leaves behind his loving wife of 44 years, Brenda, daughters, Alisha Sandifer and husband, Shawn of Crandall, Texas, Amy Mears and husband, Steven of Prosper, Texas, and Whitney King and husband, Kyle of Bridgeport, Texas. Max’s favorite name was Poppy to his 8 grandchildren. His granddaughters are Tyler Sandifer, Kaylee Mears, Kenzie Mears, Karsyn King, and Kamryn King. His grandsons are Tate Sandifer, Tripp Sandifer, and Kolby King. Max is also survived by his sister, Liz Pack and husband, Kinny of Azle, Texas and brothers, Joe Bledsoe and wife, Kathy of Whitesboro, Texas and Kip Bledsoe and wife, Carla of Frisco, Texas.
Max loved his family, and that love will go on with the life lessons and examples he set for them. He was a third-generation member of the First Baptist Church of Frisco and was an ordained deacon. He loved playing golf and had made many close friends through the sport. Max made lifelong friends with the coaches he worked with and coached against. Max was always described as “the nicest guy.” His family would definitely agree with that description.
Family and friends are invited to a Visitation on Friday, December 6, 2024, at Frisco, First Baptist Church, 7901 Main Street, Frisco, Texas 75034, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. A Funeral Service will be held at Frisco First Baptist Church on Saturday, December 7, 2024, beginning at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow at Rowlett Cemetery, Plano, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations in Max's honor to the Frisco Education Foundation, the Prosper Education Foundation or to the Greater Frisco FCA.