Multiple area football, basketball coaches find new destinations

Former Floydada boys head basketball coach Eddie Walker III is moving on to Big Sandy where he will lead their boys basketball program.

Across the South Plains, many coaches have recently made moves to new destinations or received promotions at their respective schools. As the summer continues some of the remaining positions across the area will be filled, especially for football season which is less than two months away.

Plainview High School

Plainview head boys basketball coach Marc Puente announced his decision to take over as the athletic director and head football coach at Hale Center High School. He was the Bulldogs for one season, leading them to a playoff berth and bi-district playoff exit.

The head boys basketball coaching position has not been filled yet.

Plainview football also made a new addition to their coaching staff. Drew Cunningham will join the Plainview coaching staff as the Defensive Coordinator. Cunningham most recently was a Senior Defensive Analyst at Abilene Christian University and also coached at Lubbock Coronado High School and Texas Tech University.

Olton High School

TJ Fly is taking over as the varsity head girls basketball coach at Olton High School. Olton takes over for Brittney Huseman who led the Fillies to a bi-district championship in 2022. Fly is a familiar name around the South Plains. He's made coaching stops at Floydada and Mclean High School and most recently Hamlin High School.

Floydada Highschool

Head football coach J.R. Compton was recently promoted to athletic director for Floydada ISD as longtime AD Todd Bandy announced his retirement. Compton will continue as head football coach for the Whirlwinds alongside his AD duties.

Floydada is also in search of head boys basketball coach as Eddie Walker III is moving to lead Big Sandy's boys basketball program. He led the Whirlwinds to a school record 36 wins and their first regional final appearance since 2009.

Hale Center High School

Marc Puente will assume the reins as head football coach and athletic director, replacing Jeff Smith who coached the Fighting Owls for four seasons. The Fighting Owls football team finished 5-6 overall last season and fell in the bi-district round of the playoffs. Smith accepted a position as head football coach and boys athletic coordinator at West Texas High School.

Puente is a Hale Center graduate and was once an assistant football coach for the Fighting Owls throughout his coaching career.

Hale Center also currently has an open position for the varsity head boys basketball coaching position. Jacob Thompson led the Fighting Owls for the past two seasons, both of which resulted in playoff berths and bi-district defeats.

Abernathy High School

Abernathy High School announced Mikey Marshall as the man to take over the Lady Lopes basketball program. Marshall takes over for Wayne Johnson who coached at Abernathy for two years. Marshall is a former Texas Tech Red Raider and has coached at the middle school level and AAU circuit.

Tulia High School

Tulia High School has hired on Josh Johnson to take over as the varsity head boys basketball coach. Johnson previously coached at Ovilla Christian High School and has over 200 career wins and a state tournament appearance under his belt. Johnson takes over a Tulia squad that was winless in district play last season.

On the girl's side, head basketball coach Jerry Cathey accepted a role to become the next head girls basketball coach at Childress High School. Tulia has yet to announce Cathey's replacement.

Cotton Center High School

Longtime head girls basketball coach Troy Moses is moving on from Cotton Center. This past school year he served as head girls basketball and head football coach as well as athletic director for CC. The district has not announced his replacement to this point.

However, Cotton Center did announce the hiring of Marcus Fitzhugh to take over as boys basketball coach. He replaces Brett Labidie who coached the Elks for one season. Fitzhugh was previously an assistant coach at Lubbock High School.