This week provided its share of news across the Texas Non-FBS landscape. Sul Ross State, Howard Payne, and Schreiner hired new head football coaches, which left Lamar with an open assistant coach position. North American shut down its football program, which left some teams scrambling to fill a hole in their 2025 schedule. UIW needs an offensive coordinator, with Conner McQueen departing for an NFL position, and Stephen F. Austin has two openings on the offensive staff. Let’s dive into this week’s news.

Schreiner has hired its second head coach in program history before playing a game

Earlier this week, the Mountaineers named Keith Allen head football coach. This news surprised many nationwide, considering Kenny Treschitta had not coached a game after being hired to start the program from scratch last July. Sources close to the situation said that Treschitta could not continue due to significant undisclosed health issues. The entire Dave Campbell’s Texas Football team is praying for Treschitta and sends wishes for a quick and complete recovery.

Allen spent 12 years as an assistant coach at the collegiate level, with stops at Oklahoma, Northeast Louisiana, TCU, Quincy, San Jose State, and Southwest Baptist. He was named head coach at Southwest Baptist in 2007 and posted a 27-39 overall record in six years. Allen was named head coach at The King’s Academy in Florida, where he compiled a 55-17 overall record during his eight-year stint. Allen won multiple Coach of the Year awards between 2016 and 2019 at King’s Academy. He arrives at Schreiner after serving as a softball coach at Klein High School.

Initial reaction to HPU naming Coby Gipson head coach

On Tuesday, Lamar assistant coach Coby Gipson was named head coach at Howard Payne. It’s a homecoming for Gipson, whose parents met while attending HPU and returned yearly for the Yellow Jackets' homecoming contest. He also was the team’s assistant head coach and offensive coordinator in 2017 and 2018 under Braxton Harris. On the surface, I love this hire by Dr. Hunter Sims, who has a history of finding quality football assistant coaches ready to become a collegiate head coach.

However, the HPU administration and fans need to temper their expectations for 2025, when the Yellow Jackets will again play a double-round-robin schedule in the American Southwest Conference. Depending on where they land during the next round of realignment, the Yellow Jackets could challenge for a conference title. Overall, I think Dr. Sims found another future D1 head coach.

Who will fill Gipson’s spot on Lamar’s staff?

With Gipson moving to Brownwood, Lamar head coach Peter Rossomando has an opening on his staff. Interest in the position is high, and it would be an excellent spot for any coach with Rossomando’s track record of developing his coaches into quality leaders. Sources close to the program indicate that Rossomando has already found a replacement for Gipson. However, it’s unknown how Rossomando will restructure the staff, but sources suggest the news should be released soon. 

Initial reaction to Sul Ross naming Lee Hays head coach

In last week's Blitz, I noted the Sul Ross administration had a decision to make on whether they valued the best resume or the best fit for the Lobos head coach opening. The administration went with the best resume when hiring Hays, who brings years of experience in the Lone Star Conference to Alpine.

However, considering the significant challenges a head coach faces at SRSU, the Lobos might’ve benefited more by selecting the best fit who had the support of the players. That’s easy for me to write since it’s not my job on the line with this hire, and there’s no other reason to believe that Hays isn’t the right choice. Sources indicate that Lubbock Cooper head coach Chip Darden said losing Hays is a “big” loss for the Pirates, and Hays is well-regarded in the coaching community. Hays was on the football staff when SFA athletic director Michael McBroom was a member of West Texas A&M's administrative staff. SRSU athletic director Amanda Workman spent 10 years at WT under McBroom's leadership before moving to Alpine in 2021.

Whose schedules were impacted by North American discontinuing its program?

Some questioned why I was surprised by NAU discontinuing its football program. After speaking with the athletic director and head coach Kenneth Apande last year, obtaining national accreditation was the only issue keeping the Stallions from becoming associate members of the NAIA. 

I was not alone in my surprise; sources indicate that every NAIA coach in Texas was surprised by the news. The news has left the Sooner Athletic Conference teams scrambling to find a game to add for 2025. Sources indicate the conference office is working with schools to shuffle the conference schedule and help find nonconference opponents to fill open slots.

Sources indicate Nelson is searching for a game in Weeks 4, 5, or 8, and Wayland Baptist is trying to find an opponent for Week 6 or Week 10. UTRGV had the Stallions scheduled for Week 3 in 2025. Sources close to the program said the Vaqueros have a plan, and something could be official soon. The source noted the game would remain a home contest on the same date (Sep. 13).

How many SCAC and ASC teams have a complete schedule for 2025?

Nicholas Jones asked this question on Wednesday on X, which sent me searching for an answer. HPU is the only ASC team with a full 2025 schedule. East Texas Baptist has one open spot and hopes to finalize an opponent soon. To no one’s surprise, Hardin-Simmons and Mary Hardin-Baylor are still trying to find opponents for 2025. The Cowboys hope to finalize contracts with its final two nonconference opponents soon. 

Interestingly, every Texas team in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference has complete schedules for 2025. While it remains unknown how many SCAC teams will play ASC opponents this year, McMurry has HSU and HPU on its 2025 schedule. 

UIW offensive coordinator Conner McQueen headed to the NFL

On Wednesday, The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman reported that UIW offensive coordinator Conner McQueen is expected to leave to become the assistant wide receivers coach for the Las Vegas Raiders. Given the Cardinals' sustained success in recent years, interest in the position will be high. Sources indicate that head coach Clint Killough will likely remain in-house, with associate head coach and running backs coach Kenny Hill, the current favorite.

SFA is searching for two offensive position coaches

Football Scoop reported on Monday that SFA head coach Colby Carthel was hiring Kevon Beckwith to serve as the defensive line coach for the Lumberjacks. Beckwith spent the 2024 season as Temple's interior defensive line coach and was on UIW’s staff in 2022. Carthel has two more openings to fill on his offensive staff. Sources indicate Carthel wants to fill the coaching positions for running backs and wide receivers before spring camp begins.

Update on Hardin-Simmons search for a tight end coach

Sources indicate Hardin-Simmons' search for a tight end coach is nearing a conclusion. The leading candidate for the position is current Texas A&M-Kingsville assistant Jaxson Money. An alum of HSU and native of Abilene, Money began his coaching career on head coach Jesse Burleson's staff as a graduate assistant, where he spent time with the wide receivers, special teams, and running backs over two years. He spent the last three seasons with the Javelinas, where he was the running backs coach in 2022 before moving to wide receivers coach for 2023 and 2024.