Denton ISD and athletic director Joey Florence wasted little time in finding the next head football coach at Denton Ryan High School by naming Waxahachie head coach Shane Tolleson to the position previously held by Dave Henigan, who retired from coaching earlier this month.

Tolleson has plenty of ties to the Denton Ryan program as he was the defensive coordinator for the Raiders 2020 state championship squad and was on Henigan's staff from 2013-2020, serving as the defensive coordinator from 2014-2020.

“People don’t understand what Ryan means unless you’ve lived it," Tolleson said. "Obviously its successful because of the men that came before me and the engine is the principal Vernon Reeves. The opportunity means a lot to me. That place is special not because of the brick and mortar, it’s the people."

In early 2021, Tolleson was named Waxahachie's head coach and quickly elevated the Indians from a team that was happy to make the playoffs as a 6A program to a regional title contender. In five years at the helm in Ellis County, Tolleson posted a 45-17 record. He led Waxahachie to a share of the 11-6A title in 2025 and a regional final appearance this past season. He led the Indians to regional semifinal appearances in 2022 and 2024.

Tolleson takes over a Denton Ryan squad fresh off a 12-2 campaign and a run to the regional finals at the 5A-Division I level in 2025. The Raiders lose a good group of seniors, but there’s plenty of winning pedigree in Denton. Additionally, Tolleson will bring a difference-maker as a player in his son LB Kaden Tolleson, who will be a senior in 2026. Kaden Tolleson currently holds a pair of FBS offers and will step right in to help the Denton Ryan defense.

His departure from Waxahachie leaves a highly coveted job opening. The Indians look to be flat out loaded in 2026 with a the majority of the team returning from last year’s regional finalist run. The early thought is Waxahachie will be a preseason 6A top 10 team with a legitimate chance to win the state title.

“Waxahachie has been unbelievable to me and my family," Tolleson said. "I am rich in relationships because of Waxahachie and the people that injected themselves into the football program. I’ll forever be grateful. I’m only going an hour up the road and we’ll be family forever. I hope they win it all next year and if they make I’ll be there in the building."

There is some uncertainty looming about the future as Waxahachie ISD is opening a second high school in 2027 and that should impact WHS at the varsity football level in 2028.