As we step into August, schools across the state are gearing up for the highly anticipated 2024 high school football season. The players , having honed their skills in training camps throughout the offseason, are ready for the challenge the upcoming year will bring.
As are hundreds of coaching staffs across Oklahoma.
With practices opening Monday across the state, The Oklahoman is taking a deep look at several coaching hires that occurred over the offseason. These changes, while routine, are set to make significant impacts this fall.
Here are the 10 of the most intriguing coaching changes heading into the season:
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Tarrion Adams to John Marshall
The Bears were a fixture in Class 3A throughout the 2010s, with multiple postseason appearances and a state runner-up finish in 2017. However, since moving to Class 4A in 2020, John Marshall has struggled immensely, winning just five games over the past three seasons. Adams, a Moore graduate who played at Tulsa, spent the past season as an assistant on John Marshall's coaching staff. With a new culture in place, keep an eye out for the Bears as they look to return to their old form.
Antonio Graham to Owasso
You simply can't replace a legendary figure like Bill Blankenship. You just can't. But promoting a man into his seat who has had success alongside him for the past six seasons is the next best thing. Players and coaches have praised Graham's leadership throughout his first offseason as head coach following his promotion from Rams defensive coordinator. Graham was the mastermind behind some of the best defensive units in Oklahoma during the Rams' state titles in 2017 and 2019.
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Scott Harmon to Salina
Harmon is back in the coaching ranks after being dismissed at Ponca City midway through last eason. However, Salina welcomed Harmon's prowess as a state champion head coach at Class A's Hominy in 2016. Harmon will look to lead the Wildcats to their first Class 2A playoffs appearance since 2020 and their first postseason win in 11 years. Salina's offense could get a boost, too. Harmon recently hired former Locust Grove star and the state's all-time passing leader Mason Fine as offensive coordinator.
Justin Merideth to Edmond Memorial
Edmond Memorial hasn't seen success in the form of wins in a decade. So, why not run it back with the coach who last led the Class 6A-I Bulldogs to an above .500 finish? Merideth coached the Bulldogs for eight seasons, compiling a 44-51 record before resigning in 2017. Edmond Memorial has only won 10 games since then. With three-star quarterback and Kansas commit David McComb in the mix now, Merideth will strive to restore the Bulldogs back to playoff contention.
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Justin Roland to Ponca City
After serving as defensive coordinator for seven years, Ponca City promoted Roland to lead his alma mater. Roland took over as interim head coach in October and the Wildcats finished 6-6 and appeared in the Class 6A-II quarterfinals, where they lost to eventual champion Muskogee. Roland had been the defensive coordinator since 2016 and coached in the district for over a decade. He played linebacker at Ponca City from 2000 to 2004 before continuing his playing career at Kansas State.
Reagan Roof to Kingfisher
The Yellowjackets struggled to win more than four games a season ago after a decade of deep postseason runs saw them dominate Class 3A. With a controversial season behind Kingfisher , in comes Reagan Roof, who knows a thing about postseason success. Roof spent six seasons as the head coach at Weatherford and led the Eagles to the Class 4A state title game in 2019. After a 4-7 season and a first-round loss in the Class 3A playoffs a year ago, Roof's hire aims to return Kingfisher to glory.
J.D. Runnels to Mount St. Mary
Former Carl Albert, OU, and NFL fullback J.D. Runnels was hired as the Rockets' head coach in January after a debut coaching season at Western Heights. He takes over a Mount St. Mary program, which has struggled mightily over the last two seasons, going 4-16 overall. Before the arrival of Runnels, Western Heights hadn't won a football game since 2019. He led the Jets to a 2-8 record last season as they played an independent schedule. Runnels has never seemed to back down from a challenge, and he's up for a new one at Mount St. Mary.
Taylor Sossamon to Weatherford
The Eagles will have a familiar face running their football program. Sossamon spent the last six seasons as the defensive coordinator at Weatherford and was an integral piece in its four consecutive seasons with at least seven wins, resulting in a state title game appearance in 2019. Since then, the Eagles have remained solid with the emergence of other schools in District 4A-1. With studs like four-star edge rusher and OU commit CJ Nickson leading the way in his final season, Sossamon is in for an intriguing debut year.
David White to Westmoore
White is no stranger to Oklahoma. From 2007-10, he was on OU’s coaching staff as a graduate assistant and later as a recruiting coordinator. After a two-year head coaching stint in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, White has returned to take over a Jaguars program fresh from a state quarterfinal appearance in Class 6A-I. White is in for an exciting debut season with several playmakers returning on both sides of the ball, such as quarterback Tre White and defensive lineman John Hermosillo.
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Lorenzo Williams to Lawton
Williams was named District 6A-I-1 Coach of the Year last season, days before he was controversially dismissed from his position at Westmoore . He spent seven years coaching the Jaguars and posted a 29-34 record, going 15-1 against Moore and Southmoore. Williams looks to reignite the Wolverines back to its promise in the 2010s following a 3-8 season and a first-round playoff exit a year ago.
Jordan Davis covers high school sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Jordan? He can be reached at jdavis@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @jdavis34_ . Sign up for The Varsity Club newsletter to access more high school coverage. Support Jordan’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Who are the 10 most intriguing Oklahoma high school football coaching hires in 2024?
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