Houston Christian opened the New Year with a search for a head coach. In the 12 days since the calendar year changed, the Huskies have promoted Jason Bachtel to head coach following a national search and has nearly completed a coaching staff with only two coaches returning from last year’s staff under head coach Braxton Harris, who left for Campbell.

According to sources, Jonathan Petty will be promoted to associate head coach and move to coach the safeties after coaching the cornerbacks last season. Stoney Patton will return as wide receivers coach.

As previously reported, Zach Wilkerson will be the defensive coordinator after spending the last 10 seasons at Hardin-Simmons, but he’s not the only former Cowboys coach to join Bachtel’s staff. Roosevelt Williams will coach the cornerbacks after spending four years at HSU. Mark McMillan will coach the defensive line and serve as recruiting coordinator. He also has ties to HSU as a defensive line coach for two seasons before serving as defensive coordinator at Trinity Valley last year.

Beau Blair will coach the offensive line after spending two seasons on staff at Northwestern State. Blair began his tenure at NSU as the offensive line coach before being named offensive coordinator less than two weeks before the Demons 2022 season opener.

Chris Grimes will coach the running backs and serve as special teams coordinator. Grimes spent last season coaching defensive backs at East Tennessee State after serving two years at his alma mater, Tennessee Tech. Grimes coached the nickel defensive backs and running backs and served as special teams coordinator.

Midwestern State set to add two coaches to Renner’s staff

Sources have indicated that Midwestern State head coach Rich Renner is set to add two coaches to his staff. The moves are the first for Renner since replacing Bill Maskill, who retired following the season. 

Blake Frazier, who recently served as defensive coordinator at Olive Branch High School in Mississippi, will serve as defensive coordinator. Frazier spent 10 years as a scout for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Canadian Football League. FootballScoop.com first reported Frazier’s hiring.

Sources indicate that MSU will hire Anthony Lewis as offensive line coach. Lewis spent the last two seasons as offensive line coach at FCS Tennessee State and is a familiar name to Angelo State fans. Lewis completed his playing career with the Rams before transitioning to the coaching staff as a graduate assistant. Lewis was named offensive line coach for ASU in 2017.

Patterson names third offensive coordinator in three years

Abilene Christian will have a new offensive coordinator for the third consecutive season under Keith Patterson and the fourth straight season overall. FootballScoop.com has reported that ACU is hiring Rick Bowie to replace Ryan Pugh, who replaced Stephen Lee before last season. Bowie was offensive coordinator at NCAA Division II Valdosta State during the previous two years and had stops at West Virginia and Houston under Dana Holgorsen.

Bush continues to build coaching staff at UTRGV

UTRGV head coach Travis Bush continues to assemble his staff as the Vaqueros prepare to play its first full season in 2025. Bush has hired Chris Brasfield to coach the wide receivers. Brasfield has previously spent time at SMU, Nebraska, Oregon State, Oregon, Samford, Chicago Hope Academy, Fort Worth County Day School, TCU, All Saints Episcopal School, Texas State, and Midwestern State.

In addition, Mike Barela will coach the tight ends after spending his previous two seasons at NCAA Division II Valdosta State. Barela has earlier stops at DII Colorado Mesa, UIW, Kansas High School, DII Northeastern State, Southwestern Baptist, Texas State, Sam Houston, two stints at North Texas, and NAIA Morningside.