Arizona high school football coaching changes: New leaders look to jumpstart programs

There have been close to 50 coaching changes since the end of the 2013 Arizona high school football season.

Some are more high-profile than others and the reason behind some of the departures were sketchier than the one down the road.

However it came about, there were 47 programs starting fresh with new head coaches this season.

At Poston Butte (San Tan Valley) a legend in Paul Moro — who has 13 state titles and 318 career wins — takes over, so while he might have a new address in a different part of the state the 62-year-old clearly knows how to run a program.

He might not look quite right just yet wearing something other than Blue Ridge's purple and gold, but the Poston Butte players are focused on his words and not his apparel. The Broncos got their first win, leaving Moro 12 wins from tying the state record (Vern Friedli's 331), in their second game.

Then there are coaches like Carson Miller at Wickenburg and Gerald Todd of Basha (Chandler), who are taking over successful programs in their first year as a head coach.

Todd was an assistant for 25 years in Texas and New Mexico before spending the last eight at Basha helping Tim McBurney and Bernie Busken win plenty of games (76 since 2004).

He got his first win — 31-23 over Desert Vista — in his first attempt, but it didn't come without making some tough decisions after trailing in the third quarter.

"Those are the kinds of things as an assistant you watch someone else do, but you move 24 inches to the left and it is you making those decisions," he said. "It's a while different world."

It's a world the Sweetwater, Texas native envisioned ever since getting his first assistant job back in Texas.

"Every coach gets into it thinking they'll get their shot at some point," he said with a big smile after the win. "Mine might have taken longer than most, but now that I am here it feels like this is what I was working for the whole time."

Todd's ascension to top man might have taken longer than expected, but the timing might end up being a blessing if sophomore quarterback Ryan Kelley's first game is any indication of where the program is heading.

The 6-foot-2, 170-pounder ran for the Bears' first two scores and then threw two second-half scores while completing 21 of 39 passes for 203 yards while showing off a deft touch on the long ball.

The Bears could be a team that surprises this season with Kelley throwing to one of the better receiving corps in the state.

Todd is taking more of a wait-and-see approach, but was clearly happy to finally get No. 1.

"It's always good to get the first one out of the way," Todd said. "It's my first one as a head coach. It makes it special because it is a special group of kids."

Miller, a former Mountain Pointe assistant, was congratulated by the Pride's Norris Vaughan on television after Wickenburg opened the year with a 35-21 win over Payson thanks to a 21-point second quarter led by a running game that produced 292 yards, including Hunter Gaines' 130 yards and two scores.

The most intriguing situation is probably what Moro can do at Poston Butte, which had won 22 games since starting in 2010.

The Division II program is in a growing part of the Southeast Valley and administration has given Moro autonomy to do as he sees fit.

Poston Butte was overwhelmed 43-0 in its first game by Queen Creek, a Division III favorite, but came back to beat Gila Ridge 46-0 last week.

"Moro told us not to hang our heads (after the loss to Queen Creek)," senior running back Brandon Hatfield told the SEV Ledger. "He's coached 13-1 teams before and won the championship. Everyone has that mentality."

The coach isn't ready to talk about win totals and championship.

"I don't tell the parents how many games we're going to win," Moro said told the Arizona Republic. "What I told them is that your kids are going to work hard, and they're going to be responsible. That's what's going to help them. We're going to hold kids accountable, responsible."

Jason P. Skoda, a former Arizona Republic and current Ahwatukee Foothill News staff writer, is a 19-year sports writing veteran. Contact him at jskoda1024@aol.com or 480-272-2449.