These First-Year Head Coaches are Best Set Up for Instant Success

In 2025, Sheldon C.E. King head coach Cory Laxen led the Panthers from 5-5 to the first state championship in program history in his first season. Let’s predict who could be the Cory Laxen of 2026.

The coaches are listed in alphabetical order by school.

Jeff Lofton, Canyon West Plains

This is a gutsy pick, considering Canyon West Plains just said goodbye to a foundational senior class that reached at least the fourth round of the playoffs in three consecutive years and former head coach Adam Cummings. But we believe the Wolves are here to stay for a couple of reasons. One, it's not like Cummings left for another head coaching job. He took a promotion as the Canyon ISD Executive Director of Schools and Leadership. And Canyon West Plains also promoted from within the staff, hiring assistant head coach Jeff Lofton. 

Lofton is a proven head coach, compiling a 73-33 record over nine seasons at Idalou from 2013-21. And while his inaugural roster will have only two returning starters on each side of the ball, the Wolves' young pups have plenty of talent. The offense will run through senior Slade Russell, who compiled over 2,000 yards and 24 touchdowns in an All-State season. LB Cash Lofton is set to lead the defense after an All-State season with 143 tackles and 16 tackles for loss. 

Cliff Watkins, Decatur

Cliff Watkins may be the most underrated coach in Texas. In ten years as the head coach at Glen Rose, he went 46-0 in district play. He also led the Tigers to their first two state semifinal berths in program history, and the school has been playing football since 1916! Now, he'll take over at Decatur for departing head coach Steve Huff, who led the Eagles to back-to-back state semifinals in 2022 and 2023. 

Watkins built his brand on an explosive passing offense, and he'll have an exceptional returning QB/WR combo at Decatur. Quarterback Rhys Ragan (2,555 yards, 37 touchdowns, three interceptions) and receiver Wyatt Dunn (52 catches, 951 yards, 13 touchdowns) each earned First Team All-District honors. Safety Colton Braziel earned District Defensive Newcomer of the Year honors with 130 tackles, seven pass breakups, and five tackles for loss. 

Shane Tolleson, Denton Ryan

Tolleson had Waxahachie rolling. The Indians reached the regional semifinals in three of the last four years and shared the District 11-6A title with Duncanville and DeSoto. And with a star-studded roster headlined by Texas A&M safety commit Jayquan Snell and three-year starter Jerry Meyer III, Waxahachie will be a dark-horse state championship contender in 2026. 

So, the fact that Tolleson left for Denton Ryan this offseason tells us two things. One, Denton Ryan has a special place in his heart. Tolleson was the Raiders' defensive coordinator from 2014-2020, compiling an impressive 95-15 record and the Class 5A DI State Championship trophy in 2020. Two, Tolleson believes Denton Ryan can compete for a championship in Year One.

Tolleson's defense returns eight starters, including First Team All-District corner John Catlin IV (33 tackles, 16 pass breakups, three interceptions). Catlin is the younger brother of Denton Ryan legend and current Carolina Panther Ja'Tavion Sanders. The linebacker room should be one of the best in Class 5A with returning First Team All-District selections Demari Ruth (130 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, six sacks, and two interceptions) and Kaden Tolleson (109 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, five sacks, and five forced fumbles). 

Four-star quarterback Colton Nussmeier's move from Flower Mound Marcus answered one of Ryan's few offseason questions. Nussmeier is the No. 2-ranked quarterback in the Class of 2027, per DCTX. Connelly Cuningham, the younger brother of former TCU wide receiver Keagan Cunningham, should be Nussmeier's top target, while Rontavion Brown had 800 yards and 12 touchdowns despite sharing the backfield. 

Kerry Therwhanger, Garrison

Therwhanger's retirement lasted two seasons. I guess he found out he likes competing for state championships more than he enjoys fishing. The longtime East Texas coach (185-83 record over 22 years) got his long-awaited state championship with the Terry Bussey-led Timpson Bears in 2023. It took over two decades to win the first. Could the next one come so soon? We don't think Therwhanger would've taken the Garrison job if he didn't think so.

Senior quarterback Riley McGuire, a three-year starter, will lead Garrison's spread option attack after a First Team All-District season. On defense, First Team All-District selections Ronnie Jernigan and Hayden Peddy form one of the best linebacker duos in Class 2A. Garrison's district is a gauntlet with reigning state finalist Joaquin, San Augustine (10-4), and Therwhanger's former school, Timpson. But that regular season should make Garrison battle-tested come playoff time. 

Kyle Coats, Humble Atascocita

Craig Stump forever remade Humble Atascocita. Before Stump, the Eagles had just two winning seasons in six years. Stump turned them into one of the most consistent powers in the Houston area, with six regional finals appearances and a trip to the state semifinals in 2016.

But after a 6-5 showing last year, it was fair to wonder whether or not the Eagles had reached their ceiling with Stump. We'll find out in Year One of the Kyle Coats era. Humble Atascocita is loaded with Division I prospects: seven of the top players have a combined 150 offers. The Eagles' defense, which returns nine starters, could establish a No Fly Zone with one of the most athletic defensive back rooms in Class 6A, including corner Trenton Blaylock (6-foot-2, 178, 4.3), safety Tavon Bolden Jr. (6-foot-2, 185, 4.4), and corner Joshua Banks (6-foot, 185). First Team All-District defensive tackle Jason Johnson (6-foot-4, 280) is an absolute menace. 

The Eagles' biggest question mark is finding a quarterback to replace do-it-all athlete Cardae Mack (Arizona State). Last year, the program attempted to move Mack to running back in the offseason but was forced to abandon the plan. Isaiah "Rocket" Rasheed can burn defenses with his arm at quarterback or his 4.4 40-yard dash speed at wide receiver. The staff is also high on rising sophomore Ayden Perkins. 

Demarcus Harris, North Crowley

When North Crowley won the Class 6A DI State Championship in 2024, an offense that scored 54 points per game grabbed all the headlines. But Harris, hired on as the defensive coordinator ahead of that season, was actually the final piece to the Panthers' state championship puzzle. 

North Crowley could not have hired a head coach more in the mold of Ray Gates. Why would they want to? Gates led the Panthers to a 54-4 record in four seasons. Harris and Gates's relationship developed even before Gates got to North Crowley. Both served on Cedar Hill's staff when the Longhorns reached the state championship game in 2020: Harris as defensive coordinator and Gates as defensive line coach. Watching North Crowley's players surround Harris after he was named head coach is more evidence of a smooth transition.

 The Panthers return eight starters on each side of the ball from a 12-2 team. The senior leadership is strong with multiple three-year varsity players in the fold. That class has two 1,000-yard rushers returning in Kiante Ingram (1,519 yards, 22 TD) and G'Yrell Smith (1,015 yards, 19 TD). The secondary should be among the strongest in Class 6A with DCTX five-star corner John Meredith III, reigning District MVP Elijajuan Houston, and UCLA corner commit Jerry Outhouse Jr.

Randy Pippin, Palestine Westwood

Palestine Westwood has played varsity football since 1961 and has never reached the third round of the playoffs. Picking them as a potential state champion is basically saying, 'If not now, then when?' The Panthers return 17 starters, including Texas Tech quarterback commit Kavian Bryant (3,411 passing yards, 37 touchdowns, three interceptions, 671 rushing yards). Bryant will be on the shortlist for every player of the year honor.

Really, the new head coach not being able to start at Palestine Westwood until June 1 is the only thing that gives us pause. But Coach Randy Pippin's pedigree gives us confidence. Pippin won a JUCO National Championship with Trinity Valley Community College in the mid-1990s and has served as the head coach at three other college programs. Pippin, most recently the defensive coordinator at Brazoswood, can shore up a Panthers defense that allowed over 40 points in four of its last five games.

Lee Munn, Southlake Carroll

We'll be honest, last year felt like the year for Southlake Carroll after returning 19 starters from a state finalist squad. Now, new coach Lee Munn's inaugural team returns zero defensive starters. But the Dragons, who have made at least the regional final every year since 2017, will always be in the state championship hunt. And, if anyone can overcome the lack of defensive experience, it's the former defensive coordinator turned head coach.

The Dragons will have a new quarterback, but whoever takes the reins will be in a pretty comfortable spot. The wide receiver combination of Blake Gunter (1,224 yards, 18 touchdowns) and Brody Knowles (849 yards, seven touchdowns) is one of the best in Class 6A. The offensive line should also be strong with DCTX three-star Tristan Dare moving to center and fellow multi-year starter Will Barley.

Munn says he expects an unproven but talented defensive line to blossom into one of the team's strengths by mid-season. Brothers Laione and Mapa Vainuku can wreak havoc on the interior defensive line. DeMarcus Ware Jr., the son of NFL Hall of Fame defensive end DeMarcus Ware, is already 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds as a sophomore and can play multiple positions across the defense.

Jonathan Darby, Texarkana Pleasant Grove

Former head coach Josh Gibson turned Pleasant Grove into a state powerhouse over 12 years, compiling a 124-39 overall record with two Class 4A DII State Championships. Darby's defensive mind has been a critical - if unsung - factor in that success for the last seven years. The Hawks have made at least the third round of the playoffs each of the last four years. Darby has mentored a bevy of DI talent, namely Texas Longhorns edge rusher Lance Jackson and TCU safety Kaden McFadden.

How many state championships would Pleasant Grove have if Carthage didn't exist? The Hawks have lost to Carthage in the playoffs in each of the last four seasons. But with Carthage bidding adieu to their most prolific senior class in program history, this could be the year for not-so-pleasant revenge. 

The Hawks' offense is deep at the skill positions, headlined by returning District Offensive MVP quarterback Colt Yancey. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound signal-caller threw for 2,733 yards, 39 touchdowns, and just five interceptions as a junior and will be protected by an offensive line that returns three multi-year starters. While Darby's defensive secondary took a huge hit, we expect the defensive line to rush opposing quarterbacks into decisions with Kedrid Smith (61 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks) and Kai Ringwood rushing off the edge.

Lawrence Williams, Waxahachie

After reaching the regional semifinals in three of the last four years, could 2026 be the season Waxahachie breaks through the glass ceiling? The Indians have arguably their most loaded roster yet, with Texas A&M safety commit JayQuan Snell and three-year starting quarterback Jerry Meyer III, each of whom was a unanimous First Team All-District selection.

Don’t let head coach Shane Tolleson’s leaving for the Denton Ryan job this offseason throw you off the scent. Tolleson was the defensive coordinator for the Raiders’ 2020 state championship team. His move was more about his love for Ryan and the chance to take over for his mentor, Dave Henigan, than it was a statement that Waxahachie can’t win it all. Besides, he knows Waxahachie is in excellent hands with his defensive coordinator of four years, Lawrence Williams, now at the helm. 

With a loaded senior class and the new Waxahachie Creek High School set to open in August 2027, the Indians need to strike while the iron is hot.