You may have heard this has been one of the busiest coaching carousels in Texas Panhandle history. It just keeps getting crazier, but now we’ve started to see some spots get filled.
For Perryton, the biggest move was also its easiest.
Cole Underwood, who had served as the offensive coordinator for the Rangers’ football team, has been promoted to head football coach and athletic director. He replaces Kurt Haberthur, who departed to take the same position with Gruver.
“First of all I just want to say thank you to everyone who reached out to me today to wish me well on this new adventure as the AD/HC at PHS,” Underwood said via a statement posted to his Twitter account. “I couldn’t be more excited. Rangers, Rettes and coaches – I can promise you no one will fight harder for you or your success than me.”
In addition to Underwood’s hiring, the position of head boys basketball coach has also been filled at Perryton. Scott Renken, a longtime head basketball coach in Oklahoma, will be moving to the Panhandle to take the Rangers’ job. He brings 200+ career wins to the program.
There have been plenty of other positions filled around the area as well. While the boys basketball head coaching position at Palo Duro is still open, the girls soccer position has been filled by a familiar face. Shaun Massie, who served as the interim boys soccer coach this past season, has been hired to coach the Lady Dons, replacing Adriana Cavazos. Cavazos departed to take the same position with Canyon High School.
Speaking of CISD, there will be another new coach in that district, specifically at Randall High School. No, we’re not talking about Dan Sherwood.
Kasey Ketelhut, who has coach the Lady Raiders’ golf team for the past four years, announced on Twitter this week that she will be stepping down from the position due to time constraints. That position is currently open, but CISD Athletic Director Toby Tucker told the Amarillo Globe-News that they will “more than likely” make an internal move to fill the role.
Another hiring announced was the girls basketball position at Friona. AD Jimmy Arias says that Michael Humphrey has been hired from Strawn to fill that role. He replaces James Thackston.
Happy will also have a new head boys basketball coach as Jimmy Moore will move from assistant coach to head coach while retaining AD duties. Charles Byrd will remain as the girls basketball coach after serving as head coach of both teams this past year.
Follett will have a new girls basketball coach as Nadine Barton has been moved into that role. She previously served as the head softball coach for the Pantherettes. It was unclear whether she will retain that position or not.
Officially, Borger still holds open positions for baseball and boys basketball, though AD Dane Hammerick says the baseball position will be filled “very soon.” Springlake Earth, White Deer and Wheeler all have open positions for boys basketball head coaches in addition to the already open positions at Dumas and Palo Duro.
Clarendon is still seeking a boys track coach at this time while Dimmitt has a variety of coaching shakeups. They are still seeking a new softball coach, but Martin Rodriguez has been named head boys track coach after working on the girls side of things previously.
Wildorado is still searching for a new head volleyball coach while Gruver is seeking a new softball coach. New Stratford head coach and AD Jon Murphy says the Elks have promoted Konrad Carroll to head boys track coach after he served as an assistant previously.
Officially, Childress has three open positions with girls basketball, boys track and girls track. However, AD Bo Helm says the two track positions are in the process of being filled.
Finally, Hereford will have a new softball coach. AD Adam Naron says the Lady Whitefaces will have an internal promotion to fill the spot.
There remain open head coaching positions for Pampa tennis, Hereford golf, Bushland baseball and softball, Tulia softball, and possibly Boys Ranch baseball.