Season ends, off-season begins.
While coaching changes are as common this month as Santa sightings at shopping centers, this season’s Arizona high school football coaches’ merry-go-round is filled with more passengers than normal.
Never fear, we here at the “Zone Read” are happy to do the heavy lifting for you. Well, at least we’ll provide the cliff notes version to keep your coaching future holiday card spreadsheet as updated as possible.
We’ll start with some of the more notable schools, listed alphabetically, which have been filled, and then list the remainder of the programs who have made hires, or are still on the search.
Canyon View – J.R, Alcantar takes over in Waddell, replacing Nick Gehrts, who was let go after four seasons with the Cougars. The former Dysart and Cesar Chavez head coach has over two decades of coaching experience.
The past two seasons Alcantar was an assistant at Liberty, helping the Lions claim back-to-back Open Division Championships.
I am excited and thankful for the opportunity to work with so many great kids and staff. God is good all the time, one more week and we get to work. #NEWERA VAMOS MIJOS!!!! pic.twitter.com/z8daOaDByl
โ JR Alcantar (@FBCOACHA) December 2, 2024
Canyon View went 3-7 this past season.
Chandler – The most prized coaching vacancy in the state was closed late last week when Ty Wisdom was tabbed to replace Rick Garretson, who retired after the season – marking an incredible run as both as an assistant, and later the head coach.
Welcome Coach Wisdom! ๐บ๐ @Coach_Wiz3 pic.twitter.com/yuNnXwwe2J
โ Chandler High Football Boosters (@chandler_wolves) December 22, 2024
Last month Wisdom led Millard South (NE) to a Class A State Championship. Now, he’s back in the East Valley after previous head coaching stints at Horizon and Desert Vista.
He will have a young, but talented roster to work with. Gridiron Arizona’s Chris Eaton ran the numbers – Chandler’s freshmen team finished 8-1, with their only loss coming to Liberty by five points. A handful of those freshmen played in Chandler’s playoff loss to Perry.
Wisdom is the first Chandler head coach in quite some to be hired from outside of the program. Jim Ewan was replaced by Shaun Aguano, who was replaced by Garretson after Aguano was hired by Arizona State.
Mica Moutain – Pat Nugent led the Thunderbolts to a 4A State Championship in just the program’s third season, then decided to call it a career. One of the most decorated coaches in Southern Arizona, ended his 34-year run with a record of 172-66, including a perfect 14-0 this fall.
The Mica Mountain Thunderbolts are your 2024 4A state champions!
They beat Arizona College Prep 42-13 to cap off an undefeated season.
The 4A title is staying in Tucson! pic.twitter.com/stMipT8CK1
โ Jenna Fink (@jennamfink) December 7, 2024
The school didn’t have to look far for Nugent’s replacement, hiring Mica assistant principal, and former long-time Sabino head coach, Jay Campos to take over the highly successful young program.
Campos’ 13-year run with the Sabercats included four state championship game appearances and a sparkling record of 133-35.
O’Connor – The Brian Cole Era ended with a 4-7 season. While the Eagles finished second in the Desert Valley Region, O’Connor struggled against elite 6A competition, being outscored 207-48 in losses to Liberty, ALA-Queen Creek, Basha and Pinnacle.
The program needed a re-boot.
Introducing Coach Kullos to the OโConnor Football Families! #EagleNation #MakeTheClimb @DVUSD @AdminLeadServe @DvusdA @DrFinchDVUSD pic.twitter.com/ylz2gAfSf9
โ O’Connor Athletics (@SDOathletics) December 20, 2024
Enter Ben Kullos who helped transform Kellis – increasing the Cougars’ win total each of the last three seasons. The region is set up for the first-year head coach to succeed, depending on which key returnees transfer, or don’t transfer, out. This will certainly be a story to monitor in the coming days.
Yuma Catholic – Rhett Stallworth, who essentially built Yuma Catholic from the ground up, decided this past season would be his last after leading the Shamrocks to a 176-31 record over 16 seasons in two different head coaching stints.
Celebrating our amazing Head Coach Rhett Stallworth! ๐ Heโs been named All Region Coach of the Year. His leadership guided the Shamrocks to a remarkable #1 ranking in the AIA 4A West Valley Division and a spot in the playoffs! #YCfootball #AIA4AWestValley pic.twitter.com/eHfSwIkwbH
โ Yuma Catholic HS (@YumaCatholic) November 21, 2024
Assistant coach Vernon Smith has been elevated to head coach.
Stallworth, who will remain the school’s principal, helped elevate YC’s status up to 4A. His final game was a semi-final playoff loss to eventual champion Mica Mountain.
Here’s the full list of teams who have already named their next coach, or are still in the hiring process. The former coach is listed first.
ALA Vistancia – first-year program
Alhambra – Charles Rivera
Amphitheater – Jorge Mendevil
Apache Junction – Bruce Binkley
Bourgade Catholic – Chris Crockett
Catalina – Andy Fetsis
Catalina Foothills – Greg McKinstry
Casteel – Bobby Newcombe
Cholla – Paul Tripp
Crismon – Derrick Sainz
Corona del Sol – Jake Barro
Desert Ridge – Roy Lopez
Florence – Jesse Hart
Goodyear – (first-year program) Pat Parnell new coach
Kellis – Ben Kullos
Kingman – Russ Stryker Eli Schoettmer
La Joya – Adam Beene
Lee Williams – Mike Quinn
Mesa – Chad DeGrenier
Mesquite – Vance Miller
Mountain Pointe – Eric Lauer
Paradise Honors – Josh Goodloe Josh Sekoch
Red Rock – (restarting program)
Rio Rico – Jeff Scurran Carlos Duran
Sunrise Mountain – Steve Decker
West Point – Jerry Ball
Yonker – Josh Sekoch