At a special board meeting that lasted all of six minutes on Monday afternoon, Canyon ISD approved the hiring of Caprock head football coach Dan Sherwood as the next man up to lead the Raiders program.
“I want to thank the board and everyone at Canyon ISD for taking a chance on me,” Sherwood said. “Coach (Gaylon) Selman has been fantastic in this process of making this a smooth transition during a tough time. I’m extremely excited to be a Randall Raider and hit the ground running.”
Canyon ISD athletic director Toby Tucker worked swiftly to get this hire in place over the past few weeks and feels there wasn’t a much better choice than the up-and-coming Sherwood.
“The timeline was quick but coach (Dan) Sherwood had been in that situation before,” Tucker said. “With a decade under his belt as a head coach that excites me. He has a plan and a process, and he is already ready to roll. We had a short list, and we knew we had to be diligent making this hire. We’re getting a passionate coach to go along with the other two fantastic coaches in Todd Winfrey (Canyon) and Adam Cummings (West Plains).”
Though it is May 22, a late move isn’t anything new to Sherwood. When he earned his first head coaching job at Caprock time wasn’t on his side either.
“I’ve been through this process before,” Sherwood said. “It was May 27 when I officially named the head coach at Caprock. I know how to go through short timing. Randall has such a great tradition and is a fantastic place I think we’ll be fine getting going.”
With the history and relationships built up in that growing process over the past decade, Sherwood said telling his Longhorn players wasn’t easy.
“It was a tough conversation to have,” Sherwood said. “I’m big on relationships and those were deep rooted relationships at Caprock. A lot of those guys over there I treat like my own kids. To tell them I was leaving was tough, but they were accepting of it. When God opens a door, you have to walk through whether you understand it or not. Those players know at Caprock I want the best for them and I’m still going to be a Caprock fan as long as we’re not playing them.”
As for his message to Randall. Sherwood knows the foundation that’s been set throughout the football program over the years and he’s just ready to get to work.
“Be ready for some excitement and be ready for some fun,” Sherwood said. “They know they have a great tradition at Randall. I’m an adaptable person so I’m not big on my way or the highway. There will be some of that but I’m ready for some excitement and to get everyone motivated. We’re ready to do something special.”