Van Vleck promotes from within for new head football coach

Van Vleck Leopards have promoted Cody Carney to athletic director and head football coach. Carney will replace Shannon Permenter, who took a job outside the sport.
Carter Yates

Van Vleck has promoted offensive assistant Cody Carney to athletic director and head football coach following a unanimous decision by the Board of Trustees on Tuesday. Carney replaces Shannon Permenter, who led the Leopards to a stunning third-round playoff appearance in 2024. Permenter stepped away from the program to pursue a job outside of coaching after a 1-9 season. 

Technically, this will be Carney's first head coaching job. But back in 2017, he won a district championship as Hitchcock's interim head coach after Craig Smith took a sudden medical leave of absence before two-a-days.

Van Vleck returns First Team All-District 14-3A DII defensive back Collin Ashworth and a pair of Second Team All-District offensive players in rising sophomore wide receiver Cortley Blackmon and rising senior center Cole Newell. 

This article is available to our Digital Subscribers.
Click "Subscribe Now" to see a list of subscription offers.
Already a Subscriber? Sign In to access this content.

Sign In
Don't Miss Any Exclusive Coverage!

We've been the Bible of Texas football fans for over 60 years. By joining the DCTX Family you'll gain access to all of our exclusive content and have our magazines mailed to you!