In a surprise move on Monday, Canyon ISD announced that West Plains head coach Adam Cummings would become Canyon ISD Executive Director of Schools and Leadership. The news was first reported by Kale Steed of PressPass Sports.

Cummings, a member of the THSCA Board of Directors, quickly turned West Plains High, which opened in 2022, into not only a regional power, but a state power at the Class 4A level.

Cummings has put together an impressive 96-51 record in 12 seasons with stops at Hale Center (2014-2017), Sundown (2018-2021) and West Plains (2022-2025).

He took Sundown to the regional semifinals in 2018 and 2019, but he saw his greatest success opening West Plains High School in the far southern reaches of the Amarillo city limits. In his first season at the helm, playing mostly freshman and sophomores, the Wolves posted a 7-5 record and advanced to the 4A-Divison II area playoffs.

In 2023, the Wolves began to emerge as a state power getting all the way to the 4A-Divison II Region I finals posting a 12-2 record. Cummings’ squad in 2024 saw its greatest success to date posting an 11-4 record and advancing to the 4A-Division I state semifinals where it fell to eventual state champion Celina in an absolute thriller. West Plains followed that magical season up with another stellar mark in 2025 as the Wolves posted a 12-2 mark before falling to eventual state champion Stephenville in the regional finals.

"It was the hardest decision I've ever made in my career, to walk away from what my family and I have been part of for 22 years in coaching. This is a great opportunity with Canyon ISD and I'll take the same approach I had in coaching as I try to impact kids lives, I'm excited about the opportunity to impact even more kids. West Plains will always be special to me because we built it from the ground up, there's great leadership and great people and the kids are top notch and I know they'll be in good hands," said Cummings who will move into his new role in July 2026. 

Considering the timing of the move and West Plains’ overall level of success, you’ve got to think the likely move for this opening is an internal promotion. But if Canyon ISD decides to make the move to open the job up, there’s no question they will get a large number of quality candidates due to the recent success at WPHS.