Here is a list of Wyoming high schools that will have new head football coaches for the 2024 season. This post will be updated as necessary throughout the offseason as coaches leave or are hired:
Buffalo: Ross Walker will be the Bison’s new head coach, the Casper Star-Tribune posted on Twitter on June 4. He takes over for Rob Hammond, who resigned to take a coaching position in Washington. Hammond coached Buffalo for 12 seasons and led them to a state title in 2018.
Douglas: Drew Hodgs will take over as the Bearcats’ head coach in 2024, Wyopreps.com reported on April 4. Jay Rhoades, Douglas’ head coach since 2006, will make the transition to be Douglas’ activities director, replacing the retiring Doug Hughes. Rhoades helped guide Douglas to three championships and four runner-up finishes in 18 years, and his 136 victories had him third among Wyoming’s active coaches.
Dubois: Dan O’Brien, previously an assistant coach with the Rams, was hired as Dubois’ new head coach during the Feb. 20 meeting of the Fremont County School District No. 2 board meeting. He replaces coach David Trembly, who retired after leading the Rams for 26 years. His Rams won the 1A six-man title in 2012 and were runners-up two other times.
Jackson: Former Jackson assistant Keith Johnson has been promoted to the head coach position, the Jackson Hole News and Guide reported March 13. David White resigned after two years as head coach to take a new coaching job in Oklahoma, the News and Guide reported.
Kelly Walsh: Randy Roden will take over as the Trojans’ new head coach, the school announced on Twitter on Feb. 9. Roden has been the head basketball coach at Kelly Walsh and Natrona and also coached at Wind River. He replaces Aaron Makelky, who is not returning after five years as head coach, the Casper Star-Tribune reported.
Laramie: Jake Chick, previously an assistant with the Plainsmen, has been hired as Laramie’s next head coach, the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle reported on April 4. Former coach Paul Ronga resigned after three years as the Plainsmen’s head coach.
Moorcroft: Cameron Braden, a Moorcroft alumnus who has spent five years as a coach with the school’s high school and junior high programs, will be the new head coach. Braden confirmed his hiring via email with wyoming-football.com on June 27. Former coach Clayton McSpadden resigned after two years to take another teaching job out of the district. McSpadden confirmed the change via email to wyoming-football.com on March 22.
Pinedale: Former assistant Jesse Lake will be the Wranglers’ new head coach for 2024, AD Brian Brisko confirmed to wyoming-football.com via email on June 3. David Thrash, the Wranglers’ head coach the past two seasons, resigned to become an assistant principal and the high school athletic director in Pinedale, Thrash verified to wyoming-football.com via email on Feb. 25.
Rock Springs: Kasey Koepplin, recently the head coach at Cibola High School in Yuma, Arizona, was named as the Tigers’ next head coach, SweetwaterNow reported on March 15. Former coach Ted Holmstrom resigned; he coached the Tigers’ first two games but was suspended for the rest of the season, with assistant coach Levi Stephens handling head coaching duties for the remainder of the season.
Saratoga: Jared Mason, previously an assistant with the Panther program, will be Saratoga’s new head coach, AD Greg Bartlett said via message to wyoming-football.com on June 5. Todd Weber, who led the Panthers for the 2023 season, resigned to take a position closer to family, Bartlett said on March 23.
Southeast: Shawn Burkart, who has been with the Cyclones’ football coaching staff for more than two decades as an assistant, will be Southeast’s new head coach, AD Tim Williams said via email to wyoming-football.com on April 11. Longtime head coach Mark Bullington is retiring after 25 years as the Cyclones’ head coach. He won nine state championships in his head coaching tenure in Yoder.
Ten Sleep: Corey Rice will be the new head coach for the Pioneers, Ten Sleep Superintendent Annie Griffin said via email to wyoming-football.com on July 2. Rice previously worked with Ten Sleep’s middle school program and is an alumnus of the school. Former head coach Dan Cheatham has retired.
Worland: Worland’s new head coach for 2024 will be former Greybull and Green River head coach Marty Wrage, who was hired at the end of February. Wrage and Worland AD Aaron Abel confirmed the hiring via email to wyoming-football.com on March 15. Patrick Sweeney, the Warriors’ head coach for four seasons, was not retained.
Post last updated 4:25 p.m. MDT July 2, 2024.
–patrick