Jaguars move on from Ryals, look to hire new head coach

After nine years at Cedar Shoals, Leroy Ryals will no longer serve as the varsity head football coach.

Ryals finishes his tenure with an overall record of 40-55 and six straight playoff bids between 2018 and 2023, finishing 0-10 in his final season.

“Coach Ryals has given countless hours to the Cedar Shoals football program over the last nine years. We are deeply appreciative of his time, dedication, and commitment. His leadership and passion have made a lasting impact on our school community,” Cedar Shoals principal Makeba Clark said in an email.

Athletic director Dreco Thomas says he did not take this decision lightly because Ryals helped build the program back after a seven year drought. Thomas wants to start the football program fresh with new energy.

“While we made the playoffs and and we advanced in the playoffs a couple years, we never were able to get to the third round, to that next threshold. So we decided to try to go in a different direction to see if we can jumpstart the program again,” Thomas said.

Applicants to replace Ryals will meet with a committee consisting of Thomas, other assistant athletic directors, the principal, coaches, teachers and community members.

“We just look for somebody who can come in and really set this community in this school on fire, really recapture a fan base, create some excitement around our football program and somebody who’s really going to be on fire for these kids,” Thomas said.

Ryals will finish out the year teaching at Cedar, but his future plans are uncertain.

“My reaction was one of respect. I respect the wishes of the administration,” Ryals said. “I do have a few irons in the fire. We will see what God has on the agenda and go from there.”