Wright moves former assistant into head coach’s spot

A former assistant coach for Wright’s linemen will take over for one of Wyoming’s most experienced head coaches this season.

Adam Shankle, who was Wright’s offensive line coach for the 2019 and 2020 seasons, has been selected as the Panthers’ new head coach. He will replace Larry Yeradi, who stepped down after 27 years as the Panthers’ head coach.

Shankle teaches social studies at Gillette’s Sage Valley Junior High. He was selected Thursday, he said in a phone call with wyoming-football.com on Friday.

Shankle moved to Campbell County in 2019 after spending six years as a middle-school line coach in his home state of Ohio. He was a line coach with Sage Valley’s seventh graders last year, he said.

“I’m happy to be back on the sideline in Wright and happy to be back with these boys,” he said. “(I) can’t wait to see what that equates to this season.”

Yeradi said he resigned his football coaching position in part to spend more time with is family and to have the chance to watch his son Dax play football for Chadron State.

Yeradi said he will remain at Wright as co-activities director and head wrestling coach. He will also assist with the football program and with track, as well.

One of Wyoming’s longest-tenured head coaches, Yeradi took over the Wright program in 1995. In his 27 years as head coach, he helped Wright to the playoffs 17 times, including an appearance in the Class 2A championship game in 2005.

Wright was 4-5 last season and was a Class 1A nine-man playoff qualifier.

Yeradi has accounted for more than 70% of the victories in Wright’s program history. He finished with a career record at Wright of 93-139.

Cheyenne South, Jackson, Rawlins, Burns, Cokeville, Glenrock, Pinedale, Big Piney, Lusk, Moorcroft, Wind River, Farson and Ten Sleep have also hired new head coaches for the upcoming season. If you know of other head coaching changes in the state, please email me at pschmiedt@yahoo.com.

–patrick