Dallas-area Texas high school football coaching carousel: Tracking changes ahead of 2026

The Dallas-area high school football landscape is undergoing its annual offseason overhaul, with more than a dozen programs changing head coaches since the 2025 season ended. From state-championship winners stepping away to administrators forced out by scandal, the 2026 cycle has already produced headline-grabbing moves across every classification.

Argyle Liberty Christian’s transition drew the first wave of attention when Hall of Fame tight end Jason Witten resigned after four seasons to become Oklahoma’s tight ends coach. Witten exits with two TAPPS Division I state titles (2023-24) and a 2024 Whataburger Coach of the Year award presented by the Dallas Cowboys. The school moved quickly, naming Josh Martin as Witten’s successor in late January. Martin, the 2022 Little Elm offensive coordinator, arrives with college experience at Texas Tech, Arizona State, SMU, Nebraska and Tarleton State.

Celina’s Bill Elliott ended a 33-year tenure as head coach and athletic director, announcing his retirement one day after district officials pledged to release a redacted version of an independent investigation into his son, former Moore Middle School coach William “Caleb” Elliott. The younger Elliott faces eight federal counts related to the sexual exploitation of children; the probe found no current Celina ISD employees had prior knowledge of the allegations.

Denton Braswell parted ways with Kent Laster in December after placing him on administrative leave. The program turned to Corpus Christi Miller’s Justen Evans, whose 87 victories since 2017 make him the winningest coach in Miller history.

At Denton Ryan, 12-year head coach Dave Henigan stepped down in February. Longtime defensive coordinator Shane Tolleson, who helped Ryan capture the 2020 Class 5A Division I crown, left his post at Waxahachie to accept the position. Waxahachie responded by elevating defensive coordinator Lawrence Williams, whose 2025 unit allowed just 18.8 points per game.

Lancaster moved swiftly after Leon Paul’s November resignation, hiring West Mesquite’s Stephen Jackson Jr. within a month. Jackson posted a 22-3 record and consecutive 11-win seasons at West Mesquite, including the school’s first outright district title since 1995. West Mesquite countered by pulling Jeremy Williams away from San Antonio Sam Houston; Williams guided Sam Houston to three playoff appearances and a 2025 district championship in his four-year tenure.

Mesquite Horn will search for its fourth head coach since 2019 after Vernon Hughes departed for Converse Judson following a 2-7 campaign. North Crowley, meanwhile, promoted defensive coordinator DeMarcus Harris to replace Ray Gates, who left for a North Texas position. Harris coordinated the 2024 Class 6A Division I championship defense that allowed 17.7 points per game.

Plano Prestonwood Christian lured David Wetzel away from Baylor, where he served as senior associate athletic director and executive director of the B Association. Rockwall-Heath tapped Arkansas’ Casey Dick, who posted a 55-25 record and a 2023 perfect-season state title at Fayetteville High School.

Southlake Carroll saw Riley Dodge exit after eight seasons and a 108-10 record that included two state-final appearances. Carroll stayed in-house, naming associate head coach and defensive coordinator Lee Munn as the program’s sixth head coach since 1979. Dodge will serve as SMU’s passing game coordinator and tight ends coach.

Wilmer-Hutchins hired former Lancaster head coach Leon Paul III, who called the position his “dream job.”

With spring practice looming, additional movement is expected, but the current wave of changes has already reset the competitive balance across the metroplex heading into the 2026 season.