There's no new news to report out of Ozark in regard to its head football coaching vacancy and the school's higher-ups haven't released a timetable on when they plan to hire their next coach. But Tigers fans shouldn't expect to receive word of who will assume the job in time for Christmas, if recent history is any indication.
It would fall in line with past hires if Ozark names its selection sometime early in the upcoming new year.
Former coach Chad Depee, who resigned from his post with the Tigers last month, was hired by Ozark out of Monett on Jan. 19, 2015. Depee’s predecessor, Mark Bliss, had resigned as the Tigers’ coach on Dec. 9, 2014.
Bliss was hired by Ozark on Feb. 22, 2011, after Chris Allison resigned as the Tigers’ coach on Dec. 20, 2010.
Bliss, by the way, is now 30-plus years into his coaching career. He was hired by Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Prairie in February of 2015 and is 54-27 in eight seasons with the Hawks.
Bliss came to Ozark after coaching stints in Illinois, Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma and Florida.
The trend around the COC in regard to recent coaching changes has been hiring coaches from outside of Missouri. Over the past three years, Nixa, Republic, Willard and Branson all went out of state to make new hires.
Nixa, of course, brought John Perry to southwest Missouri on Jan. 30, 2020, after he had been a head coach for 18 seasons in Mississippi.
Republic hired Ryan Cornelison on Feb. 4, 2021, after he had coached 18 years in Kansas.
Willard named Frank Tristan its coach in April of 2021, after he had been coaching college ball in New Mexico for three years.
Branson hired Aaron Hafner as its coach in January of this year, after he had been at Olathe Northwest (Kansas).
Neosho stayed local in December of 2020 when it hired Brandon Taute, after he had been the offensive coordinator at Joplin.
The only other current head coaching vacancy within the COC is at Webb City, where John Roderique resigned this month after 13 state championships in 26 seasons with the Cardinals.
The dean of coaches in the COC is now Jon Guide, who has been at Carthage 18 years. Doug Buckmaster has been at Carl Junction 10 years and Curtis Jasper at Joplin eight years.
Elsewhere around southwest Missouri, there are head coaching vacancies at Rolla, Hillcrest and Springfield Central.
Across the border, there are head coaching vacancies at Rogers Heritage and Springdale.
Ozark’s new coach presumably will inherit a handful of underclassmen who started on this year's 2-8 team.
Depee’s son, Gage Depee, played at running back, linebacker and quarterback as a junior. Other starters due to return for the Tigers are tight end/linebacker Jace Whatley, linebacker Parker Elliott, defensive lineman Ruben Arvizu amd cornerback/kicker Sam Clark
Also, junior Jack Bowers is due to comeback from a broken wrist that sidelined him for all of this past season. Bowers was Ozark’s second-leading rusher with 451 yards on 77 carries as a sophomore.
Stay tuned.
