Aledo coach Tim Buchanan and athletic director Steve Wood, who architected the Bearcats' rise into one of Texas high school football's premier programs over the last quarter-century, will retire at the end of the school year, Buchanan told Dave Campbell's Texas Football. The news was first reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Buchanan departs Aledo as one of just four coaches in UIL Texas high school football history to win eight state championships, alongside Scott Surratt, Gordon Wood and G.A. Moore. After taking over an Aledo program that can best be described as an also-ran in 1993, Buchanan built the Bearcats into a juggernaut, guiding them to their first state title in 1998 and ending with their state record 11th in 2022 by capturing the 5A Division I state title. Buchanan finishes his 25-year head coaching career with a 281-57-3 record, tied for 20th all-time among UIL 11-man Texas high school football coaches.

Wood, the longtime athletic director, helped to shape the Bearcats into one of the state's most successful athletic programs before taking over as head coach in 2014, essentially switching jobs with Buchanan. Those five seasons with Wood in charge looked awful similar to Buchanan's tenure, capturing a trio of state championships before handing the reins back to Buchanan in 2019. Wood's 75-5 head coaching record ranks among the best winning percentages in Texas high school football history.

Offensive coordinator Robby Jones will take over as the new head coach. Jones oversaw an offense that averaged more than 43 points per game — 10th best in 5A Division I – in their run to the state title in 2022.