2021-22 Oklahoma high school football coaching carousel: News on latest coaching changes
With the Oklahoma high school football regular season over, many teams are focusing on the playoffs while others are looking toward the future.
The Oklahoman is starting this coaching carousel tracker to keep tabs on coaching changes across the Oklahoma City area and state. This will be updated as news is announced.
March 21: Moore hires Greg Bryant as next head coach
Greg Bryant was approved as Moore's next head football coach Monday night, replacing Brad Hill. He takes over a program that went 7-3 in 2021 but missed the playoffs after finishing fifth in its district. Bryant was the defensive coordinator at Choctaw. The Yellowjackets have been stout defensively, including the 2020 season where they made an appearance in the Class 6A-II state championship game.
Feb. 22: Casady hires OCA Hall of Famer Ty Prestidge as next coach
Casady announces Tuesday it hired Ty Prestidge to be its next head football coach. He replaces Koby Scoville, who left following the season after 13 years. During Scoville's tenure, Casady participated in the Southwest Preparatory Conference, but the coming two years, the Cyclones will play an independent 11-man football schedule and are petitioning the OSSAA for membership. Prestidge was inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2014 and will look to guide the Cyclones with a successful transition into the OSSAA.
Feb. 17: Brad Hill to leave Moore, take Kingston head job
Moore will be searching for a new head coach. Brad Hill, who has been with the Lions the past five seasons, told his team Thursday morning he was leaving. He has accepted the head coaching position at Kingston, replacing Tommy Bare. The Lions went 25-30 during Hill's tenure, including an appearance in the 2019 Class 6A-I state semifinals. Moore was 7-3 in 2021 but missed the playoffs. Kingston went 5-5 last season and finished fifth in its district.
Jan. 10: Chris Berus named new head coach at John Marshall
One of the best assistant coaches in the city is back leading a program. Chris Berus, who spent last season as the defensive coordinator at Edmond North, has been named the next head coach at John Marshall. Berus came to the Oklahoma City metro after spending four seasons as Ada's head coach and moved to be closer to family. Now, he takes over a John Marshall program that missed the playoffs this fall for the first time since 2013.
Dec. 17: Chuck Atchison steps down after 5 seasons at El Reno
El Reno is searching for its next head coach after Chuck Atchison stepped down to take the director of maintenance operations position within the district. He was with the Indians for five seasons, which including four playoff appearances and a 31-23 record.
Dec. 15: Jones promotes Kevin Witt as next head coach, athletic director
Jones didn't have to search beyond its doors to find its next head coach. The Longhorns promoted Kevin Witt, who has been as assistant for the past 10 seasons, as the next football coach and athletic director. Witt has been a pivotal part of Jones' recent success and was an assistant on the 2016 state championship team. He replaces Dave Martin, who left to take a position at Texas Tech.
Dec. 13: Southmoore announces Jake Monden as 5th head coach in school history
Southmoore has tabbed Jake Monden as the SaberCats next head football coach. He replaces Josh Norman, who was fired last month after two seasons. Monden is the fifth head football coach in Southmoore history. He comes to Moore from Camden, Arkansas, where he was the head coach at Camden Fairview. He led the Cardinals to a 10-2 record in 2021 and an appearance in the second round of the Arkansas Class 5A playoffs. He was also named 5A South Coach of the Year. Monden starts at Southmoore in January.
Dec. 3: Putnam North hires Derek Lane as next coach
Putnam North announced Friday it hired Derek Lane as its next head coach. Lane spent the four seasons as an assistant and offensive coordinator for the Panthers. He didn't coach during the 2021 season. Lane is in his 11th year of teaching in the Putnam City district and is a Putnam West alumnus. He's a graduate of Southern Nazarene, where he played football and ran track. Under Lane's guidance as an OC, he led the Panthers to school records with points scored (68) on top of other numerous individual records. “There are a lot of good things already happening in this program,” Lane said in a release. “I’m ready to come together with the coaching staff and players to prepare for the 2022 season so that we make a statement on the field."
Nov. 29: John Marshall to begin search for third coach in four years
One of the best OKCPS football schools will search for its third coach in four years. Jeff Horrocks, who spend the past two seasons at John Marshall, is out. He guided the Bears to a 7-13 record the past two seasons, including a 3-7 mark this fall. Since winning a state title in 2017, John Marshall's win total has dropped in each of the past four seasons. This year was the first time the Bears missed the playoffs since 2013.
Nov. 23: Dave Martin leaving Jones after 15 seasons
After 15 seasons at his alma mater, including 14 as head coach, Dave Martin is leaving Jones to take the director of player development position at Texas Tech. New Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire and Martin coached together as assistants in Texas two decades ago and have stayed close friends since. Martin helped Jones to its only state football championship in school history in 2016. Martin was also responsible for the development of numerous star quarterbacks, including Brandon George, David Cornwell, Daxx Garman, JD Head and Carson May, a senior who's committed to Iowa. This season, Jones went 8-4 and fell to Washington 52-21 in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs.
Nov. 19: Craig Maynard out at Putnam West
Another Putnam City school will look for a new football coach this offseason. Craig Maynard is out at Putnam West after two seasons as head coach. He went 0-18 in two seasons as the helm, including an 0-10 mark this season. The Patriots' program has lost 34 straight games and has only two wins since 2016.
Nov. 17: Ryan Laverty resigns from Putnam North
Ryan Laverty has resigned as Putnam North's football coach following six seasons guiding the Panthers. In 2021, Putnam North went 5-6 and fell to Bixby in the opening round of the Class 6A-II playoffs. During his tenure, the Panthers went 31-32 and made the playoffs three times in the past four seasons. Putnam North went 2-8 before Laverty took over and was a program that struggled to find consistency, but Laverty, along with a new stadium, helped invigorate the program back to a competitive level. “Going to look at other opportunities," Laverty told The Oklahoman. "It's time for us to go a different route with our family."
Nov. 8: Southmoore fires Josh Norman
Southmoore fired Josh Norman on Monday after a two-year stint with the school, he confirmed to The Oklahoman on Tuesday. The SaberCats went 3-18 under Norman and made the expanded playoffs in 2020 but fell in the first round to district rival Westmoore. This fall, Southmoore went 0-10 and struggled with injuries to numerous players throughout the season. The SaberCats haven't had a winning season since 2016.
Around the state
Feb. 12: Sallisaw hired Mark Hutson as its next head coach. He has previously been at Tennessee State and was a former OU All-American. On Dec. 15, Sallisaw fired Randon Lowe after four seasons as head coach. The Black Diamonds went 1-9 this season and were 17-25 under Lowe.
Feb. 10: Kimes Gilbert has been hired as Chisholm's next head coach. He was Choctaw's offensive coordinator.
Jan. 17: Bartlesville announced Harry Wright as its new head coach. He comes to Bartlesville from Arkansas and replaces Jason Sport.
Jan. 11: Dave Meadows has retired after two seasons at Elk City. He led the Elks to the Class 4A semifinals this fall and a 10-3 record. Zack Maynard takes over as head coach. He was the defensive coordinator and previously a head coach at Watonga.
Cameron Jourdan covers high school sports across the Oklahoma City metro and state. Have a story idea for Cameron? He can be reached at cjourdan@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @Cam_Jourdan. Support Cameron’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com or by using the link at the top of this page.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma high school football coaching carousel for 2021-22
