Dallas area Texas high school football coaching carousel: Keep track of all changes ahead of the 2020 season

Editor’s note: This story will be updated throughout the offseason leading up to the 2020 season.

Keep track of every head coaching change for football teams in the Dallas area. Schools below are listed in alphabetical order.

Bishop Dunne

Out: Michael Johnson (Jan. 24)

In: Nathan Slaughter (April 3)

Michael Johnson, a two-time TAPPS state champion at Bishop Dunne with a 73-58 record, is no longer the school’s head coach.

The Dallas Morning News obtained a copy of a letter sent to parents from school president Thomas Maj regarding the school’s decision to move “in a different direction under new leadership” and restructure the athletic department.

Assistant coach Louis Fite took over as the school’s interim head coach until Nathan Slaughter was named the head coach in early April.

Slaughter was the secondary coach at Justin Northwest last season, his only year at the school, and he was also an assistant for track and field. He had previous coaching stops at Brownfield and Lubbock High.

Burleson

Out: Gary McElroy

In: Jon Kitna (March 9)

Note: While not in The News’ coverage area, we’ll include Burleson because of Kitna’s former ties with Waxahachie and the Cowboys.

Jon Kitna went from coaching at the high school level to coaching the quarterbacks for the Dallas Cowboys. Now, Kitna is heading back to the high school ranks.

The former NFL quarterback will be the next head coach at Burleson High School.

“Burleson High School was looking for a head coach and athletic coordinator to build not only a strong program, but also strong relationships among students and the community,” said BISD Superintendent Dr. Bret Jimerson in a statement. “I believe the committee got it right in selecting Coach Kitna to lead the program.”

Carrollton R.L. Turner

In: Mike Farda Jr. (April 15)

By the time the 2020 high school football season is supposed to kick off, it will have been more than 1,000 days since Carrollton R.L. Turner won its last football game. The school’s new head coach has a history of ending losing streaks — and a history with the Dallas area.

Michael Farda Jr., the son of former longtime Irving Nimitz head coach Mike Farda, will be R.L. Turner’s next head football coach and athletic coordinator, Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD confirmed to The Dallas Morning News.

Carter

Out: Patrick Williams

In: Spencer Gilbert (March 11)

Spencer Gilbert and Lancaster head coach Chris Gilbert may share the same name, but they aren’t related. The two football coaches are close, however, and have been for quite some time. Spencer has worked as Chris’ offensive coordinator for a total of 12 seasons, including the last seven at Lancaster.

Now, Spencer is set to take over his own program. Dallas ISD confirmed that Gilbert will be named the next head football coach at Carter.

Colleyville Heritage

Out: Joe Willis (Jan. 30)

In: Kirk Martin (Feb. 24)

Joe Willis left Colleyville Heritage to become the head football coach at Tyler Lee. He replaces Kurt Traylor, who left in December to join the football staff at UT-San Antonio.

Willis was 40-23 in five years at Colleyville Heritage, including 9-5 this season. Heritage reached the Class 5A Division I Region I final in 2016 and 2019 — losing to Denton Ryan both times — and was a regional semifinalist in 2017.

Martin, a 10-year head coach at Manvel, will be recommended at Monday’s Grapevine-Colleyville ISD board meeting as the replacement to Willis. Martin left Manvel in 2018 to be the quarterback’s coach at Syracuse and has recently been moved to a senior analyst position with the team.

Crandall

Out: Joe Dale Cary (May 5)

In: Kyle Hardin (June 15)

Cary elevated Crandall from 2-8 in his first season to 10-3 and a regional semifinal appearance in 2019. The head coach had an overall record of 36-31 while at the school. He was replaced by Hardin, McKinney North’s offensive coordinator who helmed one of the area’s most potent offenses in 2019.

Denton Braswell

Out: Cody Moore (March 2)

In: Cody Moore (March 3)

On the evening of March 2, Moore was introduced as Plano’s football coach. Less than 24 hours later, he changed his mind and decided to stay as the head coach at Denton Braswell.

Moore spoke with Plano ISD on the morning of March 3 before speaking with his Braswell team on that same afternoon, according to Denton ISD.

“I want to thank Plano ISD for the opportunity,” Moore said in a statement from Plano ISD. “However, after further consideration and prayer with my family, I have decided to stay in Denton and continue building what we started four years ago.”

Denton Guyer

Out: John Walsh (March 16)

In: Rodney Webb (March 30)

Walsh resigned as the school’s head football coach after 14 seasons at the helm.

He turned an 0-10 program into a perennial power, finishing 132-55 with two state championship victories. He led Guyer to four state championships in total, including last year’s 24-0 loss to Austin Westlake.

Rockwall head football coach Rodney Webb will be his replacement.

Webb’s move across the Metroplex came less than two weeks after Walsh announced he was resigning from Guyer on March 16 and a few months after Webb guided Rockwall to the 2019 Class 6A Div. I state semifinals.

Greenhill

Out: Casey Selfridge

In: Tony Banks (March 9)

Banks was an assistant coach at Greenhill last season and replaces Selfridge, who is now in a new position at the school after spending the last three seasons as the head football coach. Greenhill is coming off a 1-9 season, and the SPC school was 7-23 with Selfridge as coach.

“From the moment Tony stepped foot on campus last summer, he brought a level of excitement to the program, invigorated team culture, and connected with players,” said Jarrett Shine, head of athletics and physical education at Greenhill. “We are looking forward to his leadership as head coach.”

Banks has worked as a private quarterbacks coach in Dallas, and last season was his first year working at the high school level. He has also worked as a TV host for Fox Sports.

Grapevine Faith

Out: Kris Hogan (Feb. 27)

In: TBD

Hogan led Faith Christian to a TAPPS Division II state championship in 2016 and reached the state semifinals seven times, including 2019, when the team was 10-2. He won 69.5% of his games at Faith Christian, amassing a record of 141-62.

Irving MacArthur

Out: Ronny Mullins (Jan. 13)

In: Billy Skinner (Feb. 21)

Irving MacArthur head football coach Ronny Mullins retired after more than 30 years of coaching and teaching experience. Mullins spent four seasons as the head coach at MacArthur. The Cardinals went 2-8 this past season, finishing off Mullins’ tenure with a 9-32 record.

In a statement from Irving ISD, Mullins said he’s “blessed to finish my career in a quality district" and that he’s thankful for his time there.

Billy Skinner was named the new head coach and athletic coordinator. Skinner had been the defensive coordinator at Arlington Lamar since 2016 and coached special teams and the secondary at Lamar from 2010 to 2016. Before that, he was the secondary coach at Arlington Sam Houston.

Keller Central

Out: Bart Helsley

In: Mike Sports (May 18)

Keller ISD announced that Bart Helsley will become the school district’s new assistant athletic director, and that Mike Sports will replace Helsley as Keller Central’s head football coach and boys athletic coordinator.

Helsley had been Keller Central’s head coach for the last 17 years, since the school first opened. His team finished 7-4 last season, losing to Flower Mound Marcus in the first round of the playoffs.

“The experience Coach Helsley has gained leading a 6A football program, overseeing a feeder pattern middle school athletic program, and being responsible for eight CHS UIL athletic programs will be invaluable to his new, district-level position,” Keller ISD athletic director Eric Persyn said in a news release.

Keller Fossil Ridge

Out: Tony Baccarini (Feb. 18)

In: Derek Ramsey (April 16)

Baccarini, the longest-tenured head football coach in Keller Fossil Ridge’s history, is retiring. He has been the head coach at Fossil Ridge since 2007. Over that span he went 70-70 and took Fossil Ridge to the playoffs eight times. He won 10 games in one season twice, including a 10-1 year in 2017.

Derek Ramsey will be Fossil Ridge’s next head football coach and campus athletic coordinator, Keller ISD announced Thursday. Ramsey spent the last 15 years at Denton Guyer, including 12 as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach.

“I am very excited to be joining the Fossil Ridge family and this incredible football program,” Ramsey said in a press release. “I’m looking forward to getting to know our Panthers athletes and their families, and to continue the tradition of excellence that FRHS has established over the years.”

Keller Timber Creek

Out: Kevin Golden (December 2019)

In: Marshall Williams (Feb. 7)

Marshall Williams, who has also had coaching stops at Richland, Burleson, Round Rock Cedar Ridge, Lucas Lovejoy and Fort Worth Brewer, said he’s excited for his first head coaching job. He was also quick to credit coaches like Kevin Atkinson (Flower Mound Marcus), Jason Tucker (Haltom), Todd Ford (fomrer Lovejoy coach) and Dodge who he’s learned from as an assistant over the years.

“This is not something I did,” said Williams, who said being a head coach has been a goal of his. “I am a product of being in great places with great kids and working for great people ... I feel like it’s my time because I’ve been prepared by some of the best coaches.”

Former head coach Kevin Golden held that job for the last 10 seasons but resigned in December. He’s been the only head coach in the school history. He went 36-67 in that span and led Timber Creek to the playoffs twice. His best season came n 2016 when Timber Creek went 7-5 and won its only playoff game in school history.

Lovejoy

Out: Todd Ford (Jan. 16)

In: Chris Ross (Feb. 18)

Todd Ford coached at Lovejoy for four seasons, compiling a record of 24-20. Lovejoy was 7-4 in 2019, losing to Royse City in the first round of the playoffs. Ford was the head coach at Cedar Ridge for six seasons before arriving at Lovejoy.

Chris Ross went 20-4 in two years at Red Oak. He served as the director of program development at Boise State in 2016 and 2017. He coached at Wichita Falls from 2001 to 2004, was the coach at Cedar Park from 2005 to 2011, worked as the athletic director at Leander from 2012 to 2014 and was Prosper’s head coach in 2015.

Mansfield

In: Gregory George (April 6)

Mansfield ISD announced Monday afternoon that Gregory George was promoted to head coach at Mansfield after he served as the interim head coach last season, and after Daniel Maberry died. George has held several roles at Mansfield, including defensive coordinator and offensive coordinator.

“I cannot express just how excited I am to be coaching the extraordinary young men of Mansfield High School,” George said in a news release. “I am surrounded with a great football staff of intelligent and caring leaders of young men; and we, as a football staff, work diligently to be coaches of influence. We will be a consistent voice in the lives of our student-athletes, and we will teach life lessons through the game of football.”

Plano

Out: Jaydon McCullough (Feb. 12)

In: Cody Moore (March 2)

Out: Cody Moore (March 3)

In: Todd Ford (March 24)

McCullough served as Plano’s head coach and athletic director for the last 12 years before stepping down and accepting a new position in the school district in mid-February.

Finding his replacement has been an interesting process. On the evening of March 2, Denton Braswell head coach Cody Moore was introduced as the school’s head football coach, replacing McCullough.

Plano hires Denton Braswell's Cody Moore.

“Coach Moore believes in student success in the classroom and on the playing field," said Plano ISD AD Jeff Smith. "Our Wildcat student athletes are in good hands."

Story: https://t.co/AaZld4iQo4

(Photo courtesy of Plano ISD). pic.twitter.com/3s4bHH9eXK
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) March 4, 2020

Less than 24 hours, on the morning of March 3, Moore changed his mind and decided to stay as the head coach at Braswell.

Hey, @braswellhs, Coach Moore is not going anywhere!!! pic.twitter.com/8j4vEZtBrd
— Denton ISD (@dentonisd) March 4, 2020

Less than a month later, Plano announced the hiring of Todd Ford.

Ford stepped down as the coach at Lovejoy in January after coaching there for four seasons. He compiled a record of 24-20, including 7-4 this season. He also won a state championships as a top assistant. Ford was the offensive coordinator at Southlake Carroll from 2004 to 2006, when the Dragons went 48-0 and won three consecutive state titles.

He served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at North Texas from 2007 to 2009, then was the head coach at Cedar Ridge for six seasons before arriving at Lovejoy.

Prosper Rock Hill

In: Mark Humble (Jan. 7)

Humble, a former quarterback at SMU, will be the first head coach at Prosper Rock Hill, a 5A school that will open next fall.

He spent two years as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Frisco Lone Star. Before that he was an offensive coordinator at Southlake Carroll. He’s also had coaching stops at Texas High School, Plano East, Keller and Grand Prairie during a coaching career that’s lasted over 20 years.

Humble said in a statement The Dallas Morning News that he “fell in love with the place” and that Rock Hill “felt like home.”

Red Oak

Out: Chris Ross (Feb. 18)

In: Michael Quintero (Feb. 18)

Ross stepped down as Red Oak’s football coach after two highly successful seasons and accepted a job as Lovejoy’s new football coach.

Red Oak ISD intends to offer current assistant coach Michael Quintero the new Red Oak head coaching position, the school district said in a press release.

Rockwall

Out: Rodney Webb (March 30)

In: Trey Brooks (April 14)

Webb — Rockwall’s head football coach and campus athletics coordinator since 2013 — accepted the head coaching position at Guyer.

“[I was] 100% happy in Rockwall, was not looking to leave,” Webb said. “But the opportunity presented itself and I have an immense amount of respect for Denton ISD as a whole and in particular the emphasis on athletics in that district and the track record of athletic programs in that district and at Guyer in particular.”

Rockwall ISD athletic director Russ Reeves recommended Trey Brooks as Rockwall’s next head football coach and campus athletic coordinator. Brooks has worked as Rockwall’s offensive coordinator since 2015, leading one of the state’s most productive units.

Rockwall ISD athletic director Russ Reeves on Tuesday recommended Trey Brooks as Rockwall’s next head football coach and campus athletic coordinator. Brooks has worked as Rockwall’s offensive coordinator since 2015, leading one of the state’s most productive units.

TCA-Addision

Out: Mike Singletary

In: Steve Hayes

NFL Hall of Fame linebacker and former NFL head coach Mike Singletary is no longer the head coach at Trinity Christian-Addison, boys athletic director Donald English confirmed Thursday.

Singletary “elected to look at some other opportunities” in December, English said, and Steve Hayes, a former coach at the school, has returned to the program’s helm.

Hayes left TCA-Addison in December 2014 after 11 seasons to become head coach at Enid (Okla.). After four seasons at Enid, Hayes spent last fall as the quarterbacks coach at Henderson.

West Mesquite

Out: Jeff Neill (Nov. 21, 2019)

In: Frank Sandoval (Jan. 8)

Frank Sandoval won a state championship as an assistant coach at Cedar Hill. Now, after three years away from the Dallas area, he’s heading back.

Sandoval will be the next head coach at West Mesquite after three seasons as the head coach at Mexia, a 4A school about an hour and a half south of Dallas.

He replaces Jeff Neill, who took over as West Mesquite’s head coach back in 2013. Neill went 39-35 in seven seasons and led the Wranglers to the playoffs three times, the last of which came in 2016.

Wylie

Out: Bill Howard (Feb. 14)

In: Jimmy Carter (Feb. 14)

For the first time in 14 years, there will be a change atop the Wylie football program. Bill Howard, the longtime head coach of the Pirates, has retired.

Wylie ISD also announced that defensive coordinator Jimmy Carter will be the next head coach. Carter has been involved with Wylie athletics for 17 years.

“I am unbelievably honored and incredibly proud to take over the Wylie Pirate Football program,” Carter said in a statement. “Wylie is a special place, and Coach Howard has provided us with the recipe for our young men to be successful on and off the field. It is a true privilege to follow in his footsteps and continue the tradition of Wylie Pirate Football. AHMO!”

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