AZ HS football coaching changes: A timeline of hires and current openings
- Zach Alvira
- Jan 15
- 9 min read
Updated: Mar 24
By Zach Alvira
Head of Content
The Arizona high school football off-season is in full swing. That means transfers, firings and new hires across the state.
Many media outlets do a fantastic job of covering every coaching change throughout the year, including the Arizona Republic, Arizona Varsity's Gridiron Arizona and the AZHSFB Coaches Carousel account on X, among many others.
With that, the team at Hypamark has compiled a list that outlines the timeline of head coaches getting hired at schools that made a change or were forced into a change (retirement) this off-season.
Dec. 1, 2024 - Canyon View hires JR Alcantar
A longtime coach in the Arizona high school football scene, Alcantar will return to the role of head coach next season for Canyon View, replacing Nick Gehrts. Alcantar was the head coach at Cesar Chavez from 2017-2020. Recently, he served as an assistant coach at Liberty.
Dec. 5, 2024 - Pat Purnell named first head coach at Goodyear
The newest high school in the West Valley tabbed its first-ever head coach in Canyon View assistant Pat Purnell in early December. Goodyear, the home of the Mavericks, will open with only freshmen.
Dec. 7, 2024 - Eli Schoettmer hired at Kingman
Kingman moved quick with hiring a new head coach, tabbing Eli Schoettmer as its new leader. Schoettmer spent a year as the assistant athletic director at Hawaii Pacific.
Dec. 16, 2024 - Ben Kullos leaves Kellis for O'Connor
Ben Kullos is a name to look out for in the years to come. He revitalized the Raymond S. Kellis program, taking the Cougars to the postseason last year. Now, he takes over at Sandra Day O'Connor after Brian Cole was dismissed following the 2024 season.
Dec. 17, 2024 - Josh Sekoch named new head coach at Paradise Honors
Paradise Honors wasted little time tabbing Sekoch as its new head coach. He previously spent three years at Youngker in Buckeye.
Dec. 19, 2024 - Jay Campos becomes Mica Mountain's second head coach
Campos was tabbed to become just the second head football coach in the short history of Mica Mountain. Pat Nugent, a coaching legend who built the program from the ground up and won a state title this past season, announced his retirement shortly after hoisting the trophy. Campos spent 14 years at Sabino.
Dec. 20, 2024 - West Point promotes Brian Walker
Walker served as an assistant coach at West Point before he was elevated to the head coaching role in November. Walker spent 12 years as the head coach at Tempe High School.
Dec. 20, 2024 - Ty Wisdom returns to Arizona to lead Chandler
Fresh off a state championship with Millard South in Nebraska, Ty Wisdom now returns to Arizona to lead an East Valley juggernaut in Chandler. He takes over after Rick Garretson announced his retirement from coaching following the 2024 season. Wisdom previously coached Horizon and Desert Vista before going to Nebraska.
Dec. 26, 2024 - Vernon Smith elevated to head coach at Yuma Catholic
Yuma Catholic didn't look to far for its next head coach, tabbing assistant coach Vernon Smith as the next man at the helm to take over for Rocky Stallworth. Smith inherits a program of great tradition and success, but will have a challenge at the 5A level unless the Shamrocks win their appeal with the AIA Executive Board to move down to 4A.
Dec. 27, 2024 - Eric Lauer makes the short move to Corona del Sol
Just weeks after announcing he was stepping down at Mountain Pointe, Lauer was named the new head coach at Corona del Sol. The inter-district rival on the Pride was previously led by Jake Barro, who stepped down after three seasons.
Jan. 7, 2025 - Jesse Hart leaves Florence for Mesquite
A graduate of Dobson, Hart flourished at Florence High School, taking the Gophers to the postseason multiple times. His coaching experiences spans all across the Valley, from Mountain View to Dobson to Westview.
Jan. 7, 2025 - Daniel Saenz returns to Catalina Foothills
Saenz previously led the Falcons from 2021-23 but, according to Gridiron Arizona, left due to time constraints with the Air Force. He now returns to lead the Falcons once again.
Jan. 13, 2025 - Joe Bushman bringing college pedigree to Casteel
Casteel was arguably one of the top jobs open this off-season after Bobby Newcombe stepped down. Athletic Director Kraig Leuschner wasted no time finding his successor, tabbing former Lewis and Clark College coach Joe Bushman as his guy.
Jan. 15, 2025 - Jon Roberts named new Mountain Pointe head coach
Roberts takes over Mountain Pointe after revamping the Vista Grande program, taking it from 13 players to an average of 120. The Spartans also made the postseason under him.
Jan. 15, 2025 - Jeremy Beamon taking over Desert Ridge
Longtime Casteel assistant Jeremy Beamon was announced as the Desert Ridge head coach Wednesday. Though, he has been in the position for weeks. Beamon brings a wealth of experience to the Jaguar program.
Jan. 15, 2025 - Scott Hare returning to Arizona to lead Crismon
Another homecoming in the East Valley as Scott Hare, who led Mesquite to back-to-back 4A state titles, will return to lead Crismon. Hare spent the last two seasons at Eastlake in Washington. His coaching resume includes being the head coach at Mesa and an assistant for a year under Joseph Ortiz at Perry while he pursued his doctorate.
Jan. 16, 2025 - Chris Miranda to lead Raymond S. Kellis
Former Sandra Day O'Connor assistant coach Chris Miranda announced on Twitter/X Thursday evening he had accepted the head coaching job at Raymond S. Kellis. He takes over for Ben Kullos, who left Kellis for the head job at O'Connor.
Jan. 22, 2025 - Dominik Bonilla hired to lead Rio Rico
Bonilla, who turned around the Tombstone program after taking over that program in 2020, has been hired to lead Rio Rico. Under Bonilla, Tombstone had two consecutive winning seasons in 2023 and 2024 after going 0-7 the year before he took over.
Jan. 23, 2025 - Santiago Maldonado hired by Sunrise Mountain
Per Sports360AZ's Eric Sorenson, Sunrise Mountain tabbed former Moon Valley head coach Santiago Madonado to be the next head football coach for the Mustangs. Maldonado led the Rockets for four seasons before making the move to Sunrise Mountain.
Jan. 23, 2025 - Jeremy Hathcock returning to Mesa to lead Jackrabbits
Jeremy Hathcock called East Mesa home for 15 years as he led the Desert Ridge Jaguars. He returned to his home town of Lakeside where he became head coach and athletic director for his alma mater, Blue Ridge. After a successful run, he took his blue-collar style to Buckeye and led the Verrado Vipers to the 5A quarterfinals this past season.
Now, he returns to Mesa, just not as far east, as he will become the next head coach of the Mesa Jackrabbits.
Jan. 31, 2025 -- Loren Dawson taking over at Vista Grande
Loren Dawson has been hired to lead the Vista Grande football team, the school announced in a letter to families Friday, Jan. 31. Dawson, a Casa Grande native, returns to his home city to lead the Spartans after former coach Jon Roberts departed for Mountain Pointe. Dawson spent the last two seasons leading ALA Ironwood, building the program into yet another power within the charter schools community.
Jan. 31, 2025 - Amphitheater hires Stanley Richardson
Amphitheater went out of state to find its next head coach in Stanley Richardson, who previously coaches at Montebello High School in Colorado.
Feb. 4, 2025 - Myron Blueford taking over ALA Ironwood
It didn't take long for ALA Ironwood to find its new head coach after Loren Dawson departed for Vista Grande. Administration also didn't need to look far, as they made the quick - and likely easy - decision to promote Myron Blueford to head coach after he spent a year as defensive coordinator.
Blueford brings years of experience as a head coach, starting the Arizona College Prep program and taking the Knights to the playoffs multiple times as they elevated to the 4A Conference. Now, he will inherit another program on the rise.
Feb. 4, 2025 - Trevor Reddick promoted to head coach at Snowflake
After spending time as the offensive coordinator for one of the top teams in the mountain regions of Arizona, Trevor Reddick officially got the nod to take over as head coach at Snowflake following Kay Solomon's retirement. Snowflake won't skip a beat under Reddick.
Feb. 5, 2025 - Nick Offenberger hired to lead McClintock
After one year leading a high school program for the first time, Nick Offenberger has landed his second head coaching position. This time, it's at the big schools level.
Offenberger, a longtime assistant at Saguaro and most recently the head coach at Heritage Academy Laveen, was tabbed by the Chargers to be the successor of Mike Fell, who stepped down to focus on his health after missing games last season.
Aside from years of experience as an assistant for one of the state's powers, Offenberger is well-known in the youth football space. Feeder programs will come easy for the Chargers.
Feb. 7, 2025 - Carter brothers homecoming at Maryvale
The Carter brothers are officially back in Arizona. This comes after Maryvale tabbed the two as co-head coaches. Leading the Maryvale program will be a challenge, but if any two coaches are up for it, it would be the Carters.
They found success at South Mountain with a similar demographic. They took their talents to Desert Edge where they helped build the Scorpions into a West Valley power. They spent the last year in Georgia coaching after they stepped down from Edge following an alleged recruiting violation. Now, they have returned.
Feb. 7, 2025 - Jeremy Brigham named head coach at Apache Junction
Jeremy Brigham is making the jump from the Canyon Athletic Association, where he coached Imagine Prep Superstition, to the Arizona Interscholastic Association. He was named the next head coach at Apache Junction Friday.
Feb.7, 2025 - Mike Carlin taking over Florence program
Mike Carlin, who led the San Tan Foothills football program since 2021, was named the new head coach at Florence. He inherits a program with a tough mentality, as the Gophers have repeatedly been a thorn in the side of far East Valley programs for years.
Feb. 10, 2025 - Rod Holmes promoted to head coach at Poston Butte
Poston Butte announced it has promoted Rod Holmes to become its next head football coach. Holme served as an assistant for the Broncos in past seasons and also leads the track and field team.
Feb. 13, 2025 - Arizona College Prep hires Derek Zellner as next head coach
Arizona College Prep moved quick to establish a new head coach after Steve Vaught stepped down following the Knights' run to the 4A title game. They found their guy in former Gilbert coach Derek Zellner.
Zellner led the Tigers for nine seasons before stepping down in 2023. He spent the 2024 season as an assistant at Dobson under head coach Bill Godsil. Returning to Dobson was special for Zellner. In 1987, he was the quarterback that won the Mustangs their only state championship in program history.
Feb. 16, 2025 - Lee Williams hires Zack Regan
Lee Williams named Zack Regan its new head football coach over the weekend, bringing an end to the Volunteers search for their next leader. Regan coached last year at Desert Star Academy, a charter school in Fort Mohave.
Feb. 19, 2025 - Andrew Taylor taking over Centennial for his father
In arguably the most unsurprising move this off-season, Andrew Taylor was officially named head coach and successor to his father, Richard Taylor, at Centennial. The move was a no brainer for administration, as the coaching staff will likely now remain intact, including Richard likely taking on an assistant role.
Feb. 20, 2025 - Kalae Wong the new head coach at Moon Valley
Kalae Wong, who previously led Trivium Prep, announced he was the new head football coach at Moon Valley.
Feb. 26, 2025 - Dobson hires Bobby Newcombe as new head coach
Dobson didn't waste much time putting a new head coach in place after Bill Godsil was arrested on campus by Surprise Police on charges involving a minor. Bobby Newcombe helped turn Casteel into a top program in the East Valley, and now stays put in hopes of turning around Dobson.
March 24, 2025 - Chaparral hires Trace Carroll as head coach
First reported by Sports360AZ’s Eric Sorenson, Chaparral has tabbed alum Trace Carroll as its next head football coach. Carroll has served as an assistant for several years, most recently making stops at Mountain Pointe and Pinnacle.
He helped begin the development process of several star running backs, including Eli Sanders, who recently transferred to USC. He was elevated to passing game coordinator for the Pioneers, working with star Wyatt Horton this past season.
Hires at schools with no formal announcement
Alhambra - Adrian Macias
Bourgade Catholic - Andrew Yates
Youngker - Alonzo Highsmith Jr.
Cholla - Roland Youngling
La Joya - Kevin Snead
Desert Star Academy - Jonathan Clark
Many positions remain open
Many head coaching positions remain open, with some expected to announce a new head coach in the coming days.
This list will be updated as new coaches are hired.
Current openings
ALA-Vistancia
Arcadia
Agua Fria
Betty H. Fairfax
Catalina
Dobson
Heritage Academy Laveen
Kofa
Miami
Nogales
Red Rock
Safford
San Tan Foothills
Shadow Mountain
South Mountain
Tombstone
Trivium Prep
Valley Vista
Verrado