analysis: big changes in local head football coaching
Ryan Richardson won’t be returning as Dewey High School’s head football coach. Several area schools are seeing head coaching position changes. Scott Sapulpa takes over for the Doggers.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Blaine Landers won’t be returning at Wesleyan Christian School’s head football coach. Several area schools are seeing head coaching position changes. Fabian Quiroz takes over for the Mustangs.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
By Mike Tupa
June 18, 2025
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
The face of area high school prep football has changed drastically this offseason.
Of the 10 head coaches at the end of last season, it appears only five are returning in the same positions — Harry Wright (Bartlesville), Matt Hennesy (Pawhuska), Kylee Sweeney (Barnsdall), Chance Juby (Nowata) and Criss Davis (Caney, Kan.).
That means at least six programs will be led by new head coaches — a tremendous shake-up compared to most years.
Among the new coaches are: Fabian Quiroz (Wesleyan Christian), Trenton Kallenberger (Copan), Derrick Hammer (Caney Valley Trojans), Bruce Munden (Oklahoma Union) and Scott Sapulpa (Dewey).
I’m excited about the opportunities for the new head coaches, but I’m also sad to see some of the coaches I’ve worked with for multiple years leaving.
At Oklahoma Union, Steve Trammell came in several years ago and helped lead the Cougars to a complete U-Turn — from a winless program to a playoff qualifier for several consecutive seasons. I appreciated Steve’s wry sense of humor, his brutally honest appraisals, his enthusiasm for his players and his detailed information. Unfortunately, the Cougars hit a bit of a rough patch the past two or three seasons.
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Steve Trammel won’t be heading up the Oklahoma Union Cougar football team this season. Several area schools are seeing head coaching position changes. Bruce Munden takes over for the Cougars.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
Caney Valley High School (Ok) head coach Stephen Mitchell joined the Dewey High School football squad. Derrick Hammer takes over for the Trojans.
BECKY BURCH/Bartlesville Area Sports
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Marshall Foreman took charge in 2020 — in the midst of all the COVID disruption — of a Copan football program that hadn’t fielded a full team since 2016. His energy and focus acted like artificial respiration that revived the spirit of the Hornet grid tradition. Within just four seasons, Copan powered back into the playoffs for the first time in 14 seasons. In 2024, Copan stormed to an 8-2 regular season record. But during the offseason Foreman resigned in order to join the Pawhuska football staff while his son Kane transferred from Copan to Pawhuska to compete for the quarterback spot. It was always a pleasure to interview Marshall.
Stephen Mitchell definitely felt both extremes of the spectrum as the Caney Valley Trojans head coach for nine seasons — a handful of playoff years or 0-10 campaigns. He joined the Dewey football staff. I always appreciated his courtesy during our phone talks.
Dewey’s outgoing head coach Ryan Richardson also displayed great civility and a positive attitude despite his team’s struggles the past three seasons. I thought he did a good job and, ironically, it appears as if next fall might bring a turn-around for Dewey’s fortunes.
I didn’t really work long enough with former Wesleyan Christian coach Blaine Landers to develop a consistent coach-reporter relationship but I wish him well in his new job.
Bartlesville, Dewey, Wesleyan Christian and Oklahoma Union all have the potential for notable progress from last season.
Nowata also is on an upward trajectory the past season or two and should continue to rise to greater success.
Pawhuska, Barnsdall and Copan boasted highly-competitive teams last season and could be revving up for blockbuster seasons.
I’ve got to be honest, I’m not sure about the scenario at Caney Valley in Ramona. The Trojans could be set for the stirrings of revival to a team that not too many years ago made the playoffs.
The Bullpups of Caney Valley (Kan.) don’t have spring practice and I’m not really sure of who they have returning. But they turned in a powerful showing in 2024 and there’s reason to believe they will follow suit this coming fall.
Area football should produce plenty of happy Friday nights next fall and journeys into the playoffs.