Maryland High School Football's Year of the Coaching Change: 36 Programs Have New Leaders in 2026

Teams ranked No. 2, No. 3 and No. 7 in last year's final state rankings enter 2026 with new head coaches, highlighting an offseason of significant turnover across Maryland.

Bryce Bevill (right) is replacing Bill McGregor as DeMatha's head football coach. | DeMatha Catholic High School Facebook

There are approximately 235 high school varsity football programs in Maryland, and it is routine to see about 15 percent head coaching change each year.

But 2026 is unique.

While there are at least 36 head coaching changes — roughly in line with the 15 percent turnover rate — the marquee names and programs involved make

Teams that finished ranked Nos. 2, 3 and 7 in the state last season have new head coaches this year. 

DeMatha: Bill McGregor, in his two stints at DeMatha, compiled a 334-53-3 record while leading the nationally renowned program. His final team finished 11-0 and ranked No. 2 in Maryland. McGregor stepped aside before this season, allowing former DeMatha player and recent assistant coach Bryce Bevill to inherit the program. McGregor will stay involved as a director of football operations. In 35 seasons under McGregor, DeMatha won 19 conference titles and finished second nine other times. He leaves as the second all-time winningest coach in Maryland history.

Archbishop Spalding: Kyle Schmitt guided Archbishop Spalding into national prominence following the COVID-19 pandemic. He stepped down after leading the Cavaliers to a fourth consecutive MIAA A Conference championship to accept a position as tight ends coach at the University of Maryland. Spalding went 55-6 between 2020 and 2025, and last year’s squad finished No. 3 in the state rankings. Former Navy assistant coach R.B. Green takes over this talented squad. 

Good Counsel: Another Maryland program to gain national acclaim in recent years, Good Counsel also underwent a head-coaching change. Andy Stefanelli was replaced by Sal Gorgone. During Stefanelli’s nine-year tenure, the Falcons averaged seven wins per season and won two Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championships.

River Hill: Brian Van Deusen retired after 26 years and 227 wins at River Hill. Van Deusen elevated the Hawks to state prominence beginning in the early 2000s. River Hill strung together 10 straight seasons with at least 10 wins. During that run, River Hill won four state titles. Van Deusen ranks 15th in all-time coaching wins in Maryland. Breaon Klein-Hebron is the new River Hill head coach.

A Father-Son First

Perhaps the most unique coaching change this year involves a father-son combination. Sean A. Pierce was the head coach at Walt Whitman while his father, Sean W. Pierce, was an assistant. In the offseason, Sean A. was named head coach at Springbrook and Sean W. was named head coach at John F. Kennedy. Springbrook travels to Kennedy for a nonleague clash on Sept. 25.

Other Noteworthy Changes

Jake Coleman, who guided Stephen Decatur to back-to-back state titles in 2023 and 2024, has stepped down in order to follow his son, who plays football at nationally ranked Vanderbilt. Russell Croteau takes over as Decatur’s head coach.

Tim Small, the winningest coach in the 56-year history of Williamsport, stepped down after 11 seasons to take an administrative role at the school. Small turns the program over to his assistant coach Joe Austin.

Dameon Powell, who coached Flowers into the status of Class 4A state power, takes over the Riverdale Baptist program. Powell was 48-8 at Flowers since 2021 before the team was forced to forfeit its 6-0 start last season and he was relieved of his coaching duties. 

One other coaching change of note, Chad Wilson had to step down after five years as head coach at Watkins Mill after being appointed to the Frederick County Board of Education. Angel Garcia takes over at Watkins Mill.

2026 Coaching Changes

School	2026 Coach	2025 Coach
Albert Einstein	Blair Webb	Tracy Martin Jr.
Archbishop Spalding	R.B. Green	Kyle Schmitt
Catonsville	Jeff Mueller	John Youngberg
DeMatha	Bryce Bevill	Bill McGregor
Edmondson-Westside	Brian Dunston	Corey Johnson
Flowers	Frederick Groves	Dameon Powell/Groves interim
Frederick	E.J. Wallace	Pat Cadden
Glen Burnie	Malik Forrester	Alec Lemon
Good Counsel	Sal Gorgone	Andy Stefanelli
Harford Tech	Brad Dreyer	Ryan Hunt
James M. Bennett	Dustin Mills	Greg Lasinski
John F. Kennedy	Sean W. Pierce	Jacquis McCray
Joppatowne	Chris Johnson	Garry Smith
Kent Island	Trent Jackson	Tim Goodrich
Long Reach	Isaac Murray	Jamie Willis
Mount Zion Regional	Zion Williams	no program
New Town	Steph Smith	Mike Savage
Patterson	Dave Gonzales	Elwood Townsend
Perry Hall	Robb Johnson	Ryan Pittillo
Perryville	Dan Basara	Basara/Thomason co-interims
Pikesville	Michael Bradley	Dominic Peters
Queen Anne's	Bryon Sofinowski	Brian Mooney
Randallstown	Tim Brown	Jamari McCollough
Rising Sun	Wes Johnson	Dom Massimiano
Riverdale Baptist	Dameon Powell	Bruce Hocker
River Hill	Breaon Klein-Hebron	Brian Van Deusen
Rockville	Quinn Backus	Alimamy Kallay
St. Vincent Pallotti	Kenny Lucas	Tony Ashley
Springbrook	Sean A. Pierce	Akiel Russell
Stephen Decatur	Russell Croteau	Jake Coleman
Walt Whitman	Patrick Galloway	Sean A. Pierce
Walter Johnson	Jacquis McCray	Aaron Fiddler
Washington	Tremont White	Alec Meintzer
Watkins Mill	Angel Garcia	Chad Wilson
Williamsport	Joe Austin	Tim Small
Woodlawn	James Gamble	CJ Masterson