Kpreps keeps you informed of all the Kansas high school football coaching changes and provides some insight into the coaching positions that remain open. Keep us updated on coaching changes by emailing matt@kpreps.com or contacting us via Twitter @Kpreps or on Facebook.
Class 6A
Blue Valley – Allen Terrell
The entire state continues to mourn the sudden passing of Tiger Coach Eric Driskell who passed away on February 15th from a ruptured brain aneurysm. Driskell was beloved by his players and students at Blue Valley, and respected among his peers across the Kansas City metro and the state. In his seven seasons as the Tiger head coach, Driskell posted a 71-18 record with two state championships, including one in his first season as coach in 2010. The Tigers finished as the Class 6A runners-up the past two seasons. Blue Valley has traditionally been one of the state’s top football programs and it comes as no surprise that the Tigers next coach comes from within. Allen Terrell was officially announced as the next Blue Valley head coach on April 6th. Terrell has been an assistant on the Blue Valley staff for the past five seasons. Prior to that, Coach Terrell spent six seasons as the head coach at KC Turner.
Blue Valley Northwest – Clint Rider
Clint Rider was announced as the Huskies’s new leader on April 4th after former Northwest coach Mike Zegunis resigned on February 15th. Rider comes to Blue Valley Northwest after a successful 4–year stint at Hesston where he led the Swathers to a 36-9 record. Hesston finished as the Class 3A state runners-up last fall. Prior to taking the Hesston job, Rider spent two years as head coach of his alma-mater Southeast-Cherokee. Zegunis led the Huskies to a 55-61 record over the past 12 years. Blue Valley Northwest lost in Week 9 to rival Blue Valley North, 39-36 in double overtime. The Huskies played three overtime games in 2016, and four of their games were decided by single digits.
Olathe West – T. J. O’Neill
The newly formed school has tabbed Mill Valley assistant T. J. O’Neill as the Owls’ first coach. O’Neill, a Salina Central graduate, has been part of back-to-back Class 5A state championships as Mill Valley’s offensive coordinator the past two seasons. Olathe West will begin with a junior varsity schedule in 2017 before opening varsity competition in the fall of 2018.
Wichita North – Scott Moshier
The seemingly ever-struggling Redskin football program has hired one of the most successful coaches at the Class 2A level. Scott Moshier will return home to Wichita after spending 11 years as head coach at Meade. He led Buffaloes to a 107-19 record including 2-1A state titles in 2010 and 2012. Meade reached the playoffs in all of Moshier’s 11 seasons. Wichita North presents a significant challenge as the Redskins have won a total of 15 games in the past 13 years
Wichita Southeast – Erik Dobbins
Wichita Southeast football coach Mike Schartz resigned in late March after two seasons leading the Golden Buffaloes. Now Southeast will turn to former Liberal assistant Erik Dobbins to try and turn things around. Dobbins returns to Kansas after serving as an assistant at Memphis’ Sheffield High School. Under Shartz the Buffaloes posted a 2-16 record with both wins coming over Wichita North. The Southeast football program has struggled for some time having won a total of six games over the past five seasons.
Class 5A
Andover – Cade Armstrong
Andover has named Cade Armstrong as its new head coach. Armstrong has served as the defensive coordinator at Derby the past four seasons in which the Panthers have compiled a 46-4 overall record and 6A state titles in 2013, 2014, and 2016. At Derby, Armstrong’s defense has given up only 15.2 points per game over the span of his 50 games as DC. Last fall, the Panthers gave up only 12.2 points per game. Coach Armstrong replaces Tony Crough who resigned after one year at Andover where he led the Trojans to a 6-4 record and a close playoff loss to Great Bend. Ironically, Crough came to Andover prior to the 2016 season from Great Bend where he led the Panthers to a 10-9 record in his two years as coach. Crough is leaves the Trojans to join the football staff at Hutchinson Community College.
Bishop Carroll – Dusty Trail
After 22 seasons as head coach at Bishop Carroll, Alan Schuckman announced his resignation in mid-January. Schuckman transformed the Golden Eagles into one of the top football programs in the state. He led Carroll to a 193-46 record and state titles in 2012 and 2014. Carroll tabbed long-time offensive coordinator Dusty Trail as its next head coach. Coach Trail and defensive coordinator Jim Nance have each been on staff at Carroll for all of Schuckman’s 22 seasons.
Bonner Springs – Chad Eaddy
Bonner Springs has announced Chad Eaddy as the school’s next football coach. Eaddy previously coached in 2015 at Wilson High School in Florence, South Carolina where he compiled a 13-28 record during his four years leading his alma mater. Eaddy played collegiately at South Carolina State where he was a 1,000-yard rusher. Eaddy replaces LaDrew Murrell who led the Braves to a 4-6 record in his only season as head coach. Murrell took over late in the summer when former Brave coach Lucis Aslin left for a job in Oklahoma.
KC Turner – Julian Parks
Coach Parks is a Turner alum and has been on the Golden Bears’ staff for the past ten seasons. He replaces Jeremy Milne who led the Turner program to a 17-29 record from 2012 to 2016. Milne’s Bears finished 5-5 last fall and his offense produced Class 5A All-State wide receiver Jordan Martin; a finalist for the Kpreps – Dylan Meier Get Busy Livin’ Player of the Year Award. Prior to the 2016 format change allowing all schools to reach the postseason, the Golden Bears had not reached the playoffs in six consecutive seasons.
Liberal – Jason Dunlap
Liberal graduate Caleb Cline handed in his resignation before Christmas, and now the Redskins turn to another former player in Jason Dunlap to try and return the program to glory. Dunlap has several years of coaching experience including most recent success at the junior high level. He replaces Cline who led the Redskins to a 10-18 record in his three seasons (2014-16) as head coach. Cline had previously served as Liberal’s defensive coordinator from 2011-2013 seasons. Once a dominant program, Liberal has posted a 50-86 record and just two winning seasons since 2004. Those winning seasons were an 8-3 mark in 2004, and a 6-4 record in 2005.
Topeka West – Ryan Kelly
Topeka West fired John Tetuan shortly after the 2016 season. Tetuan posted an 9-36 record during his five years as the Chargers’ coach. The six seasons prior to Tetuan’s arrival, Topeka West went a combined 3-51. West alum Ryan Kelly will now take over the Charger program after serving as an assistant at Benedictine College.
Class 4A, Division I
Andale – Dylan Schmidt
Former Andale player and assistant Dylan Schmidt has been tabbed to take over for long-time Indian Head Coach Gary O’Hair. O’Hair retired after the 2016 season after a 15-year run at Andale the produced a 150-30 record and three state championships. Under O’Hair, the Indians became one of “the” measuring-stick programs in Class 4A. Schmidt returned to Andale as an assistant after a one-year stint as Wellington’s head coach in 2011.
El Dorado – Bill Shaw
El Dorado has hired Bill Shaw as its next head football coach replacing Jason Nichols. Nichols resigned as the Wildcats coach on February 16th. Coach Shaw served as the Wildcats’ defensive coordinator during the 2015 season before returning to Friends University last fall. Prior to initially joining the Friends in 2006, Shaw was at Derby high school where he was defensive coordinator on the Panthers 1994 state championship team. He has also spent time at Wellington, Campus, and Ingalls high schools. Nichols led El Dorado to a 5-12 record in his two years as head coach. This past fall, the Wildcats finished 3-6 – the most wins in a single season since 2008. Since 2004, the Wildcat program is just 21-98 with three playoff appearances.
Louisburg – Robert Ebenstein
Louisburg named Robert Ebenstien as the new head coach in mid March. Ebenstein has spent the past five seasons on staff as an assistant for the Wildcats. He has also spent time as an assistant at Washburn Rural. A traditional contender in Class 4A, Louisburg posted a strong 8-3 season in 2016 before falling to eventual champion Bishop Miege in the state quarterfinals. The Wildcat program has posted a 102-45 record since 2004 and captured the 4A state championship in 2010. In fact, Louisburg has reached the state playoffs in 14 of the past 15 seasons. The Wildcats had a late coaching change last summer as Kyle Littrell resigned late in the summer and Jeff Lohse and Gary Griffin served as co-head coaches last fall. Griffin led the Wildcats during that 2010 championship season.
Towanda-Circle – Logan Clothier
Towanda-Circle announced the hiring of Logan Clothier as its new head coach in mid March. Clothier is a recent graduate of Emporia State where he played wide receiver for the Hornets. A Topeka High graduate, Clothier returned to the Trojan program last fall to help out as an assistant. Circle coach Heath Henderson resigned in mid-December after posting a 1-26 record in his three seasons. This past fall, the T-Birds ended a 36-game losing streak with a 28-14 victory over Winfield. Since 2004, the T-Birds have posted a 25-95 record and have won just four total games in the past six seasons.
Class 4A, Division II
Baldwin – Doug Kerr
Baldwin has hired former Iola head coach Doug Kerr to replace veteran coach Mike Berg. Berg went 117-79 in his 19 season at Baldwin, but the Bulldogs were a combined 5-14 the past two seasons. The 2016 season was Baldwin’s first in Class 4A, Division II. Coach Kerr led Iola to a 20-26 record in his five seasons including the Mustangs first playoff appearance since 2008 last fall. Baldwin has posted an 87-52 record since 2004 and reached the state quarterfinals four times including a state semifinal appearance in 2007. In 2013, the Bulldogs finished 11-1 and lost to eventual state runner-up Coffeyville in the quarterfinal round.
Chapman – Kurt Webster
Chapman has hired Kurt Webster as head football coach after Dan Sell resigned in late March. Webster graduated from Shawnee Mission West and played collegiately at Emporia State and William Jewell. Webster has spent time in recent years as assistant coach at both Emporia and Shawnee Mission West. Sell spent the past two seasons leading the Irish to a combined 5-13 record. After snapping a 25-game losing streak 2012, Chapman became much more competitive posting a 15-21 record from 2012 through 2015. The Irish fell back to 1-8 last fall, and haven’t reached the playoffs since 2007.
Colby – Rees McKinney
Rees McKinney takes over at Colby replacing Chris Gardner as coach. McKinney spent last season as head coach at the 8-man level at Moscow (5-4). Gardner spent ten seasons as head coach of the Eagles compiling a 36-59 record. The Eagles were competitive in a much more balanced Great West Activities Conference. Colby finished 5-5 last fall with a loss to eventual 4A-II champion Pratt in the first round of the playoffs. The Eagles have reached the playoffs three consecutive seasons and have one of the top young players in the state in junior-to-be Jordan Schippers.
Girard – Neal Philpot
Girard has named former Pitt State All-American Neal Philpot as its new head coach. Philpot, a Norton graduate, spent several years on staff at Pitt State before serving as the Offensive Coordinator at Otttawa University. Former Girard coach Leon Miller was recently named the new head coach at Neosho (Mo.) High School creating the vacancy at Girard. Miller spent ten seasons as head coach at Girard (49-47) after stints at Parsons and a long tenure as the head coach at Frontenac. Miller led Frontenac to the Class 2A state title in 1994.
Goodland – Chase Topliff
Long-time coach Jeff Savage lasted just two years at Goodland and the school recently named Chase Topliff as his replacement. The Cowboys finished 3-6 in both of Savage’s seasons. Topliff was an assistant at Goodland last season. The Cowboy program has finished 3-6 in three consecutive seasons and four of the past five seasons.
Iola – David Daugharthy
The Iola football job is open with former head coach Doug Kerr making the move to Baldwin. Kerr led the Mustangs to a 20-26 record in his five seasons in Iola after taking over for Rick Horton in 2012. Last fall, the Mustangs reached the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
Prairie View – Kyle Littrell
Prairie View has hired former Louisburg head coach Kyle Littrell to replace Doug Whitcraft who spent six years as head coach of the Buffaloes. Prairie View slipped back to 2-7 this past fall after finishing 5-4 the two prior seasons. The Buffaloes haven’t qualified for the state playoffs since the 2005 season. Coach Littrell led Louisburg to a 15-14 overall record in three seasons before resigning prior to the 2016 season.
Class 3A
Atchison County – Corey Thomas
Atchison County is now open as Ryan Kelly, who previously was reported as taking the Tiger job, has been named the head coach at Topeka West. Atchison County will enter the 2017 season having lost ten consecutive games. The Tigers were winless in 2016 and gave up an average of 57 points per game. Atchison County hasn’t reached the playoffs since 2011.
Beloit – Brad Gober
Beloit has hired Brad Gober as its head football coach. Gober comes to Beloit after spending the past five seasons as an assistant at Augusta. Coach Gober served as the Orioles defensive coordinator for the past three seasons in which they allowed an average of 19.5 points per game. Long-time Beloit coach Greg Koenig left to take the same position at Cimarron. During his tenure at Beloit, Koenig went 93-30 and reached the playoffs in nine of eleven seasons. Beloit finished as the 3A state runners-up in 2013.
Cimarron – Greg Koenig
The Bluejays hired former Beloit head coach Greg Koenig. During his tenure at Beloit, Koenig went 93-30 and reached the playoffs in nine of eleven seasons. Koenig will take over for Chuck Dirks who was a late summer replacement at Cimarron last fall. The Bluejays finished 7-3 with a close first-round loss to Larned. Cimarron has reached the playoffs in three consecutive seasons, and has posted a 38-30 record since 2010.
Ellsworth – Josh Homolka
Ellsworth has announced the hiring of Josh Homolka as the Bearcats’ new head coach. Homolka, a graduate of nearby Claflin High School, played in college at Kansas before coaching stints at Pittsburg State and Ottawa University. Last season, Homolka was the safeties coach at Division I Northern Illinois.
Hesston – Tyson Bauerle
The Hesston football job became open after Clint Rider took the head position at Blue Valley Northwest. Rider had a successful 4–year run at Hesston leading the Swathers to a 36-9 record. Hesston finished as the Class 3A state runners-up last fall, and several key players return for what could be another deep playoff run again in 2017.
Mission Valley – Jeff Savage
After the resignation of Cody Witte, Mission Valley hired longtime Kansas high school coach Jeff Savage as the new leader of the Vikings. Savage comes to Mission Valley after two seasons at Goodland where he posted a 6-12 overall record. Coach Witte led the Vikings to a 21-18 overall record over the past four seasons, including three consecutive playoff appearances.
Riverton – Johnny Mallatt
Johnny Mallatt will return to the sidelines as the Riverton head football coach next season. Mallatt was head coach at Riverton in the early 1980’s and led the Rams to their first-ever CNC Championship and playoff berth in 1983. Mallatt went on to coach at his alma-mater Galena where he had a successful run in the mid-2000’s. Mallatt has coached for 44 years, with 39 of those coming at the high school level and the other five as an assistant at Missouri Southern. H.T. Kinney’s one season at Riverton resulted in just a 2-8 overall record, but the Rams upset Cherryvale in district play to advance to the playoffs. Kinney, a former offensive coordinator at nearby Missouri Southern (Joplin, Mo.), stepped down as the Ramblers’ coach in January to attempt and get back into coaching at the collegiate level. Since 2004, Riverton has posted a 62-66 record with six playoff appearances including a state semifinal appearance in 2008.
West Franklin – Mike Einspahr
Mike Einspahr has been named the new head football coach of the West Franklin Falcons. Einspahr has spent the past seven seasons coaching at the high school level in Florida with the last three seasons as offensive coordinator at Hernando High School near Tampa. Einspahr, who is from Nebraska, previously spent time as head coach at Valley Heights in the mid 1990s. Einspahr replaces Kevin Coker who went 6-21 in his three seasons as head coach of the Falcons. Since the combination of Pomona and Williamsburg in 2007, West Franklin has posted an overall 27-63 record. The Falcons compete in the Flint Hills League.
Class 2-1A
Meade – Justin Powell
Meade recently named longtime football assistant Justin Powell as its new head coach. Meade became one of Class 2-1A’s most consistent programs under Scott Moshier. Moshier was recently announced as the new head coach at Wichita North. He spent 11 years as head coach at Meade. He led Buffaloes to a 107-19 record including 2-1A state titles in 2010 and 2012. Meade reached the playoffs in all of Moshier’s 11 seasons. Now the Buffs will look to continue that consistency after finishing 8-2 last season.
Sacred Heart – Garrett Galanski
Sacred Heart recently named Garrett Galanski as the new head football coach of the Knights. Although this will be the first head coaching position for Galanski, he has spent the past two seasons as an assistant at Ottawa University where he played offensive line for two years. A California native, Galanski spent two years close to home at a junior college in Bakersfield before transferring to Ottawa. Former Sacred Heart coach Bruce Graber announced his retirement after the 2016 season. The Knights battled injuries and finished just 3-6 last season. Since 2004, the Knights have posted an 81-52 overall record. Sacred Heart has reached the state playoffs in 14 of the past 16 seasons, but hasn’t advanced past the first round since 2012.
St. Mary’s Colgan – Shawn Seematter
Colgan has named Halstead Defensive Coordinator Shawn Seematter as their next head coach. Seematter, a Royal Valley graduate, has spent the past three seasons as Defensive Coordinator at Halstead alongside his high school coach, Jason Grider. In that time, the Dragons have posted a 31-6 record and reached the Class 3A state semifinals in 2014 and 2015. Seematter’s defenses have statistically been among the state’s best in points allowed giving up just 8.5 points per game during their 12-1 season in 2015. By percentage Colgan is the winningest high school football program in state history and now the Panthers have found the sixth coach in the school’s history. Legendary coach Chuck Smith announced his retirement after 37 seasons and a 373-74 record at the school (376-80 overall). Smith led the Panthers to five of the schools’ seven state championships, including four consecutive from 2000-2003. The Panthers set a state-record with 66-straight wins during that run, later to be topped by Smith Center’s 79 consecutive wins. Smith was just the fifth coach in Colgan history and only the second coach since 1961. Colgan has posted a 607-147-8 overall record in the school’s history.
Uniontown – Jeremy Neville
Former Uniontown All-Stater Chad Hays took over the Eagle football program last season, but resigned his position late last year. The Eagles finished just 2-7 in 2016 in their first season back at the 11-man level. The Eagles were 9-1 in 2015, but graduated a solid senior class that season. Last season, Uniontown played a lot of young players including freshman Andrew Reed who put up more than 1,600 yards of total offense.
Class 8-Man, Division I
Rural Vista – Adam Flowers
Long-time Hope and Rural Vista coach Jeff Hostetter announced his retirement after the 2016 season. Hostetter coached at Hope for 25 seasons and three more when Hope and White City combined to form Rural Vista. In all, Hostetter won 221 games, reached the state playoffs 21 times, reached five state title games, and won the 2003 state championship at Hope.
St. John – Mike Joiner
The St. John Tigers are searching for a new football coach as Nick Garcia has resigned after 11 seasons. Coach Garcia led the Tigers to an overall 52-53 record during his tenure. Garcia’s teams went 48-30 in his first stint as head coach from 2005 through 2012. He then stepped aside for the 2013 season in which Chris Story led the Tigers to a 2-7 record. Garcia returned in 2014, but the Tigers have posted a 4-23 combined record the past three seasons.
Southern Coffey County – Todd Griffin
Southern Coffey County has promoted junior high coach Todd Griffin to head high school coach. Griffin replaces Korey Lankton who spent the past six seasons as head coach of the Titans. Lankton posted a 15-40 record including a 4-6 mark and a playoff appearance in 2014. Since 2004, the Titans are 52-70 with four playoff appearances.
Class 8-Man, Division II
Moscow – Tayler Stull
After one season at Moscow, Rees McKinney has moved on to take the head job at Colby. The Wildcats went 5-4 under McKinney last season. Now, former La Crosse standout Tayler Stull will lead the Wildcats in his first head coaching position.
6-Man Football
Fowler – Craig Maynard
The Gold Bugs will transition to 6-man football this fall under new coach Craig Maynard. Fowler snapped an 18-game losing streak with a 66-0 win over Deerfield on October 14th. Kraig Westhoff spent the past two seasons as the Fowler coach, but the Gold Bugs produced just a 1-17 overall mark. Since 2004, Fowler is 53-69 overall with four playoff appearances.
Natoma – Cody Dunlap
Earlier this month, Natoma’s Aaron Homburg resigned his position as principal and head football coach to take the Superintendent role at Marion. The Tigers moved to the new 6-Man football league this past fall, but struggled with roster numbers and finished 0-6.
Use your Facebook account to add a comment or start a discussion. Posts are subject to Facebook's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your Facebook name, photo & other personal information you make public on Facebook will appear with your comment.
