Copperas Cove ISD announced on Wednesday that head football coach Tony Johnson will transition to an assistant athletic director role within CCISD, leaving the Bulldawgs’ head coaching position open.

Johnson, who previously served as head coach at Maypearl, Bonham, and Dallas White, led Copperas Cove for three seasons, posting an 8-22 record. He has also been an assistant coach at Duncanville, South Grand Prairie, and Cedar Hill, along with a stint on staff at TCU.

The district has not yet announced his official duties, but new CCISD superintendent Dr. Brent Hawkins now faces the challenge of finding a new head coach and restoring Copperas Cove to its former glory.

Since the departure of longtime head coach Jack Welch in early 2018, the Bulldawgs have made just one playoff appearance (2018), with the 2024 team’s 4-6 mark standing as their best record since that postseason run. Stability has been elusive for the program, as the 2025 season will mark Copperas Cove’s fourth different head coach since 2018.

Despite these challenges, the Copperas Cove job is expected to draw significant statewide interest. As a one-high-school ISD with a winning tradition and quality facilities, it presents an attractive opportunity—though candidates must navigate the complexities of serving a community near a large military installation and a transient student population.