As we ramp up towards the start of a new year, IdahoSports.com is once again providing wall-to-wall preview coverage of every conference and league around the state.

Additionally, we will be providing complimentary preview pieces like these:

2025 Preview: Inside the Numbers

As for today's preview feature, we're diving into the coaching changes in 2025.

The coaching carousel seems to be picking up more and more steam with each passing season.  Long-tenured coaches are a relic from the past, and if a coach makes it to the five-year mark at one school, that’s a pretty decent run by today’s standards.  Whether it’s burnout, school board decisions, overbearing parents, lack of dedicated athletes, etc., it’s clear that coaches are more underappreciated than ever.

Need more evidence? Here are the 32 programs that will feature a new head coach this season.

CLASS 6A

Centennial Patriots

OUT: Keelan McCaffrey
IN: Steve Sosnowski

McCaffrey vacated the head coaching post after only two seasons at Centennial, but for good reasons: he’s moving on up to serve as the Patriots’ Athletic Director.  In his place is a name familiar to sports fans across the Treasure Valley: Steve Sosnowski.  Sosnowski, an inductee into the IHSAA’s Hall of Fame this summer, started his coaching career at the age of 16.  He’s coached football, basketball (boys and girls), track and field, softball, wrestling, and even cheerleading.  In terms of football coaching, Sosnowski served as head coach at Firth from 1984 to 1985, Pacific Grove High in California from 1986 to 1988, Florin High in Sacramento from 1989 to 1992, and Meridian from 1993 to 1998, with a career record of 64-85-1.  He hung up his coaching whistle in 1999 to become Capital’s Athletic Director, a position he held until his retirement in 2020.  Since his retirement, Sosnowski kept busy by serving as an assistant coach for Capital’s football program the past four seasons.

Madison Bobcats

OUT: Chandler Rhoads
IN: Matt Pancheri

Madison has brought back one of its own to lead its football program.  Matt Pancheri, previously an assistant coach at Bonneville and Madison (where he eventually served as defensive coordinator) returns to east Idaho after eight seasons as the head coach at Lewiston, where he went 40-36 overall.  Pancheri replaces Chandler Rhoads, who was promoted to an Assistant Principal position at Madison High School.

Meridian Warriors

OUT: John Zamberlin
IN: Christian McAlvain

Meridian High underwent two coaching changes this offseason.  It initially started when the 69-year-old Zamberlin retired after six seasons at the helm.  Austyn Carta-Samuels, a former Division I quarterback at Wyoming and Vanderbilt, and most recently the QB Coach at Division I Missouri, was tabbed to replace Zamberlin.  But Carta-Samuels, a private QB coach, decided to step back and serve as offensive coordinator instead.  That opened the door for 31-year-old McAlvain to ascend to the top role.  McAlvain enters his first head coaching job with plenty of experience, including four seasons as an assistant at Mountain View (three as QB Coach), and time spent as an assistant coach at three different California high schools.  McAlvain initially joined the Warriors’ coaching staff this offseason as Associate Head Coach/Wide Receivers Coach.


CLASS 5A

Caldwell Cougars

OUT: Kip Crofts
IN: Chris Boncz

Caldwell has fallen on hard times, as the Cougars haven’t posted a winning season since 2005, and will play an independent schedule for the fourth consecutive season this fall.  Dropping their affiliation with the Southern Idaho Conference ensures that Caldwell can’t participate in the state playoffs, but allows the Cougars to build their own schedule as they attempt to rebuild their program.  Boncz brings 19 years of assistant coaching experience to the position, with stops in California and Washington, as well as Meridian High from 2018 to 2022.  Boncz has spent the past two seasons at Caldwell, and served as the Cougars’ defensive coordinator last fall.

Idaho Falls Tigers

OUT: Marty Duffin
IN: Joe Parker

Once a proud program, Idaho Falls has fallen on hard times recently, prompting a change at head coach.  Marty Duffin posted one winning season during his six-year tenure, finishing with an overall mark of 15-40.  Stepping in is Joe Parker, a 1994 graduate of Moon Valley High School in Phoenix, Arizona.  Parker is a history teacher at Idaho Falls High School, but was not part of last year’s varsity coaching staff.

Lewiston Bengals

OUT: Matt Pancheri
IN: Zane Hobart

Matt Pancheri departs Lewiston to take the head coaching position at Madison.  In steps one of Idaho’s most successful coaches of all time: former Kendrick head coach Zane Hobart.  In 12 seasons as Tigers head coach, Hobart turned Kendrick into an eight-man powerhouse, compiling an overall record of 96-27 and four consecutive state championships from 2021 to 2024.

Preston Indians

OUT: Craig Cunningham
IN: Brandt Reese

A late coaching change occurred at Preston, where former head coach Craig Cunningham was let go in late May after three seasons.  Brandt Reese, a successful assistant coach from Utah, was tabbed as Cunningham’s replacement on an interim basis.  Reese’s career began at Ridgeline High in Millville, where he served as wide receivers coach and special teams coordinator from 2015 to 2017.  From there, he moved to Sky View High in Smithfield, where, after two seasons coaching wide receivers and special teams, he was promoted to offensive coordinator, a position he’s held the past five seasons (since 2020). 

Ridgevue Warhawks

OUT: Sean Impomeni
IN: Gary Thorson

Impomeni retired this past offseason after three years and a 5-19 overall mark.  In steps Thorson, who has earned a reputation as a quick builder of moribund programs.  In 14 seasons at four different high schools in Oregon, the 56-year-old Thorson has posted a winning record at nearly all four stops.  He coached at Grant High in Portland from 2001 to 2004, finishing 21-20.  He finished one game under .500 in two seasons at Dallas High, compiling a 10-11 mark from 2005 to 2006.  After serving as an assistant coach at Linfield High, Thorson returned to head coaching at Dayton High from 2010 to 2011.  The Pirates went 22-3, and went to the state semifinals and championship game in consecutive years under Thorson.  Lastly, Thorson served as head coach at Sisters High.  From 2014 to 2016, Thorson went 19-9 before stepping aside to serve as Sisters’ Athletic Director.  Thorson returned to the Sisters sideline from 2020 to 2022, finishing 17-9 in his second stint.  Overall, his career resume features a record of 90-53, and playoff appearances in nine of his 14 seasons.

Shelley Russets

OUT: Jayson Bird
IN: Clayton Hall

Jayson Bird departs after one season and a 3-7 record.  In steps Clayton Hall, an Oregon native and 1998 graduate of McMinnville High.  In an interesting twist, Hall was a four-year starter at quarterback for McMinnville’s football team, and was coached by Gary Thorson, who is also a newcomer to Idaho this year at Ridgevue.  After graduating from McMinnville, Hall served a two-year mission for his church in Costa Rica, and then enrolled in the U.S. Marine Corps.  He served a four-year tour of active duty in Iraq and Japan from 2002 to 2006, and upon his return to the United States, enlisted in the National Guard from 2007 to 2013, where he once again was deployed to Iraq.  After four years as an offensive assistant in Oregon and Utah, Hall received his first head coaching position in 2021, at Sisters High School in Oregon.  After two seasons and a 7-10 mark overall, Hall moved to east Idaho, where he most recently served as an assistant coach at Thunder Ridge.


CLASS 4A

Cole Valley Christian Chargers

OUT: Mark Moreno
IN: Jordan Henslin

After 11 years in the Cole Valley Christian program, including the past five as Chargers’ head coach, Mark Moreno resigned in the offseason.  Officials didn’t have to look far for Moreno’s replacement, as they turned the keys over to assistant coach Jordan Henslin.  Henslin is a 2010 graduate of Fountain Hills High School in Arizona, where he starred as a wide receiver.  After graduating, Jordan eventually returned to his alma mater as defensive coordinator and associate head coach under his brother, head coach Jason Henslin.  He then served as Moreno’s defensive coordinator for the past three seasons.  Henslin was hired full-time at Cole Valley Christian in 2024, and spent one season as the Chargers’ strength and conditioning coach for all sports programs, as well.

Filer Wildcats

OUT: Justin Brandsma
IN: Aaron Rife

Right after completing his fourth season as Filer’s head coach, Justin Brandsma’s contract was not renewed.  The decision was contentious, with several supporters and opponents voicing opinions on the matter.  In steps Aaron Rife, an assistant at Filer since 2017.  Rife has twice before applied for the head coaching job, and finally was selected on his third try at the position.  Rife started as an offensive line Coach, and was ultimately promoted to offensive coordinator under Brandsma.  A 2013 graduate of Valley High School in Hazelton, Rife played college football on the offensive line from 2014-2017 at Briar Cliff University, an NAIA school in Sioux City, Iowa.

Gooding Senators

OUT: Tanner Baumann
IN: Jon Helmandollar

Tanner Baumann is moving up to serve as Gooding’s new Athletic Director after three seasons as the Senators’ head football coach.  He’ll be replaced by Jon Helmandollar, who makes the short move from Wendell to take over the Senators’ program.  Helmandollar graduated from Eagle in 2002, and played running back at Boise State from 2004 to 2007.  His head coaching career has taken him to Wendell (twice), Toledo (Oregon), Springfield (Oregon), Hillsboro (Oregon) and Columbia in Nampa.  Helmandollar has a career record of 48-63, and went 12-23 in his most recent stint at Wendell from 2021-2024.

McCall-Donnelly Vandals

OUT: BJ Sorensen
IN: David Joyce

BJ Sorensen relinquished his post as Vandals’ head football coach after a promotion to serve as McCall-Donnelly’s high school principal.  Teton’s loss is McCall-Donnelly’s gain, as the Teton School Board decided not to renew David Joyce’s contract despite a 20-12 record over three years, with a semifinal and championship game trip, on his resume.  Prior to coaching at Teton, Joyce spent five years as the head coach at Jackson Hole High School in Wyoming.  From 2017 to 2021, Jackson Hole went 33-22.

Teton Timberwolves

OUT: David Joyce
IN: Shane Braman

Despite overwhelming objections from nearly 100 students, parents and coaches, the Teton School District Board of Trustees decided not to renew David Joyce’s contract this past March.  In three seasons under Joyce, the Timberwolves finished 20-12 overall, with trips to the state semifinals and championship in consecutive years.  Joyce’s replacement is Shane Braman, a native of Westport, Massachusetts.  Braman started his coaching career in 1995 at Bishop Stang High School in Dartmouth, Massachusetts.  After a hiatus to serve in the United States Air Force, Braman returned to coaching as an assistant at Jackson Hole High in Wyoming, Southern Utah University, the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, and Jackson Hole once again.  Braman most recently served as Jackson Hole’s offensive coordinator, and the Teton job will be his first as a head coach.

CLASS 3A

New Plymouth Pilgrims

OUT: Tony Cade
IN: Brody von Brethorst

New Plymouth has been churning through coaches lately across all sports, and Tony Cade is out after just two seasons in charge of the Pilgrims’ program.  Brody von Brethorst steps in for his first career head coaching position.  von Brethorst was an accomplished football player and wrestler at Weiser High School, where he graduated in 2019.  He then attended Missouri Valley College and competed in wrestling and lacrosse, graduating in 2023.  Now, one year out of college, von Brethorst will be tasked with leading New Plymouth after a 3-6 record in 2024.

North Fremont Huskies

OUT: Keith Director
IN: Jason Wright

Keith Director left North Fremont after just one season to take on the task of rebuilding Salmon’s program (more on that below).  His replacement is North Fremont assistant coach Jason Wright, who steps into a head coaching role for the first time.  After more than 20 seasons of the same coach on the sidelines (Ben Lenz), North Fremont is working in its second head coach in as many years.

Orofino Maniacs

OUT: Jake Maetche
IN: Seth Melton

Jake Maetche resigned after three trying years that saw participation numbers dwindle, so now the Maniacs are turning to one of their own.  Seth Melton graduated from Orofino in 2011, and was not only a standout performer at both quarterback and defensive back during his career, but was named a team captain, as well.  In recent years, Melton and his wife Madison have been managing the Orofino Youth Baseball program.

Parma Panthers

OUT: Jarome Bell
IN: Randy Riley

Jarome Bell’s two-year stint as Parma’s head football coach came to a close after back-to-back winless campaigns.  After hiring Bell from out of state (Virginia), Parma officials are sticking with one of their own in their latest attempt at rebuilding the Panthers’ program.  Randy Riley is a 2011 graduate of Parma, and was an accomplished football player and wrestler during his time with the Panthers.  His father, Shawn Riley, also coached football and wrestling at Parma before tragically passing away from a heart attack during Randy’s senior year.

Salmon Savages

OUT: Quade McQueary
IN: Keith Director

Don’t say that Keith Director doesn’t like a challenge.  The former New Orleans resident has operated a personal training business for years, and has worked with several NFL and Major League Baseball athletes.  Director moved to Chester, Idaho last year, and was immediately tabbed to become the Huskies’ head football coach.  In his debut (and only) season on the North Fremont sidelines, the Huskies finished 6-4 and advanced to the Class 3A quarterfinals.  Now, Director wants to take on the task of rebuilding Salmon’s program.  The Savages haven’t been to the playoffs since 2019, and haven’t won a playoff game since 2008.  Director is replacing Quade McQueary, who took an assistant coaching job at Carroll College in Montana after one season as Salmon’s head coach.

Soda Springs Cardinals

OUT: Rod Worthington and Scott Gambles
IN: Colby Fangman

Soda Springs turned back the clock a year ago, turning to co-head coaches Rod Worthington and Scott Gambles.  The duo had previously coached the Cardinals in the 1990s, but after an 0-9 season, another program reset was needed.  Soda Springs found two solutions with one person, as new head coach Colby Fangman will also assume Athletic Director duties after longtime AD Jeff Horsley retired.  Fangman is from Texas originally, and played safety at West Texas A&M in the 1990s.  His football coaching career began in 2000, and has taken him to stops in Texas, Washington, Oklahoma and New Mexico.  Fangman was hired at Mingus Union High in Arizona for the 2024 season, but he abruptly resigned two weeks into fall camp.  Fangman’s son, Alexander Fangman, is expected to quarterback the Cardinals this fall.

St. Maries Lumberjacks

OUT: Greg Rouse
IN: Hayden Humphrey

St. Maries’ program is still trying to find its footing following the tragic death of longtime head coach Craig Tefft in 2023 after a lengthy battle with cancer.  Tefft’s defensive coordinator, Greg Rouse, led the Lumberjacks for the past two seasons, compiling a record of 4-12.  Now the Lumberjacks will work in their third head coach in four years, and they’re turning to former St. Maries standout Hayden Humphrey.  Humphrey graduated in 2016, and was an All-League wide receiver and defensive back throughout his playing career.

Wendell Trojans

OUT: Jon Helmandollar
IN: Josh Yon

Jon Helmandollar departed Wendell after four seasons as head coach to take the same job at Gooding.  Taking Helmandollar’s place is Josh Yon, who served as an assistant coach under Helmandollar last season.  Yon has six years of experience as an assistant coach, and has been Wendell’s head JV coach the past two years.


CLASS 2A

Grace Grizzlies

OUT: James Newby
IN: Travis Draper

James Newby departs after a four-year run that ranks among the best in Grace history.  Newby’s teams went 26-16 with four playoff appearances in four seasons.  Among the four playoff runs were three trips to the semifinals, two trips to the semifinals, and one championship game appearance.  Travis Draper, who also doubles as Grace’s Athletic Director, has been an assistant all four years under Newby, and now steps into his first head coaching position.

Kamiah Kubs

OUT: Nels Kludt
IN: Garrison Bretz

Nels Kludt went 56-45 over his nine-year stint as Kamiah’s head coach.  His retirement coincided with the graduation of his son, Dave Kludt, who will now play basketball at the College of Idaho in Caldwell.  Garrison Bretz assumes the lead job now, and has seven years of coaching experience as an assistant at both Orofino and Kamiah.  Bretz was a standout running back and linebacker at Orofino High, and graduated in 2017.

Kendrick Tigers

OUT: Zane Hobart
IN: Ty Koepp

In 12 seasons as Tigers head coach, Zane Hobart turned Kendrick into an eight-man powerhouse, compiling an overall record of 96-27 and four consecutive state championships from 2021 to 2024.  But he’s moved on to a bigger challenge at Class 5A Lewiston, and the Tigers have turned to one of the best players in program history to serve as the new head coach.  Ty Koepp was a four-year starting quarterback, and led the Tigers to three consecutive championship before graduating in 2024.  That’s right, the 20-year-old Koepp has only been out of high school for one full football season.  In piloting the Tigers’ offense to three straight championships, Koepp compiled 7,656 total yards and 139 touchdowns.  This is Koepp’s first coaching position of any kind, and our extensive research shows that he may be the youngest head football coach of all time in the United States.

Notus Pirates

OUT: Joe Woodland
IN: Charlie Shepherd Jr.

A work promotion caused Joe Woodland to hang up his whistle after seven seasons as Notus’ head coach.   In his place is a name familiar to 8-man football fans in the Treasure Valley…Charlie Shepherd.  We should clarify: we’re talking about Charlie Shepherd Jr., the son of legendary Salmon River head coach Charlie Shepherd Sr.   Charlie Shepherd Sr. led the Savages to five state championships over an eight-year span from 2009 to 2016.  Charlie Shepherd Jr. was a standout player for his dad at Salmon River, serving as an All-State wide receiver and defensive back.  He also played basketball and competed in pole vault before graduating in 2013.  From there, Charlie played college football and competed in pole vault at the College of Idaho.  Once his playing career wrapped up, he served as an assistant coach for one season with the Yotes before moving on to Homedale High, where he spent three years as an assistant coach.


CLASS 1A

Camas County Mushers

OUT: Ben Walter
IN: Scott Dean

Ben Walter departs after one season as the Mushers’ head coach.  Walter was hired as the new defensive coordinator at Jerome after serving as Camas County’s defensive coordinator for several years prior to becoming the Mushers’ head coach.  His replacement is the well-traveled Scott Dean, who has coached for nearly thirty years in Arizona, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon and Utah.  Dean is a native of Tillamook, Oregon, and attended the University of Oregon as a hurdler for the Ducks’ track and field program before transferring to BYU to finish out his academic career.  His first head coaching job came at Belcourt High in North Dakota in 1983.  His greatest stretch of success came at Oregon’s Weston-McEwen High, where the TigerScots went 28-5 over a three-year period from 1993 to 1995.

*UPDATE: After accepting the Camas County job, Scott Dean tendered his resignation, leaving Mushers officials scrambling to find another replacement.  As of publishing, a new coach had not been hired yet.

Cascade Ramblers

OUT: Keala Hoe
IN: Mike LaCroix

Keala Hoe spent the past four seasons as Cascade’s head coach, and had legendary former head coach Pal Sartori serve as his top assistant.  Replacing Hoe is Mike LaCroix, who played under Sartori at Cascade from 1999 to 2000.  After his sophomore season of 2000, LaCroix moved to the city, playing at Borah High in 2001 and Meridian High in 2002.  Following high school graduation, LaCroix spent a decade serving as a member of the United States Air Force, which included three tours of duty in Iraq.  The former offensive lineman coached Cascade’s junior high team last season.

Castleford Wolves

OUT: Brian Lowry
IN: Brock Campbell

Longtime head coach/Athletic Director Brian Lowry is out after eight seasons.  Brock Campbell has prior experience as a high school assistant and junior high coach, and will take the reins for the first time.

Genesee Bulldogs

OUT: Justin Podrabsky
IN: Jason Hanson

Justin Podrabsky has left Genesee after four seasons on the sideline to join new Lewiston coach (and former Kendrick coach) Zane Hobart as the Bengals’ offensive coordinator.  In his absence, a name familiar to Bulldog fans has emerged: Jason Hanson.  Hanson’s teaching career began at Genesee in 1997, and he’s coached just about every sport that’s offered at the 1A school.  That includes football, where he is about to embark on his third stint as Bulldogs’ head coach.  His initial stint came from 2000 to 2006, where his teams went 46-26 overall.  His first run culminated with three consecutive championship game appearances in 2004, 2005 and 2006, and his 2005 squad went 12-0 to win the first football title in school history.  His second stint occurred from 2010 to 2016, where his teams went 34-22.  Add it all up, and across 13 seasons, Hanson has gone 80-48 at Genesee.

Richfield Tigers

OUT: Buck Hendren
IN: Matt Kent

Buck Hendren has long juggled football coaching and Athletic Director duties, but has scaled back to focus on his AD work in 2025.  Matt Kent, a 1994 graduate of Richfield High, has coached junior high football and JV basketball in recent years.  This will be Kent’s first head coaching position at the varsity level.

Watersprings Warriors

OUT: Dustyn Remer
IN: Ben Hayes

Watersprings will be working in their third head coach in as many seasons, and fourth coach in the past five years.  Shane Remer took the reins from Chris Strahm in 2022, and coached the team for two seasons in ’22 and ’23.  Shane then stepped down into an assistant role last season while his son, Dustyn Remer, assumed head duties.  After just one season with Dustyn Remer at the helm, Ben Hayes now assumes command. Hayes graduated from Watersprings in 2015, and became the first football player in school history to play at the college level, serving as a tight end at Dordt University, an NAIA program in Sioux City, Iowa.  This will be his first head coaching job.