HS Sports: War Eagles Welcome New Leaders in Coaching Positions

OAK RIDGE NORTH, TX -- The departures of tenured head coaches in the Oak Ridge Football and Softball programs have opened the doors for Tyler Blackshire and Sarah Stowell to take the reins as head coaches.

Football:

The departure of 13-6A great and former War Eagle Head Coach Mark Schmid was of little surprise to those in football circles when his leave was announced. The long-time head coach had spent years building the Oak Ridge program into a contender, with playoff appearances building.

Talented division one collegiate players like Frankie Arthur, Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, and Justin Williams made the War Eagles stand out during their time with the team. Still, their graduation meant valuable talents had to be replaced.

It is now the job of former Magnolia Defensive Coordinator, Tyler Blackshire, to pick up the pieces of a near-playoff caliber team and chart a course for success.

Aiding Blackshire will be his hand-picked coaching staff, which has started to form over the past several months to become a brain trust of different-minded coaches that will take the time to shape the War Eagle players into a team worthy of repping the Oak Ridge brand.

In the ultra-competitive District 13- 6A, the expectations will be high for Blackshire and the rest of his coaching staff. Still, the determined culture that will be instilled may be the difference between a gradual build and a strong leap into contention.

Softball:

Also leaving the Oak Ridge Athletic program was Head Softball Coach Stephani Rougeau, who had led the Lady War Eagles for nearly a decade.

Her experience as a former player at the collegiate level had prepared her for a tenure at Oak Ridge that was headlined by district titles and playoff success, especially in recent years. A runner-up finish in the 2025 season saw the team finish the year with a top 80 rank in the state before exiting the postseason in the Area Round.

Luckily for the Lady War Eagles, former assistant Sarah Stowell has taken up the position vacated by Rougeau to become the team’s new Head Coach. The trust of players familiar with Stowell will be invaluable in ensuring a smooth transition that aims to keep the momentum going for Oak Ridge.

The past years of success will be a solid cornerstone for the program to build off of, and a tweaked culture and mindset will keep things fresh under a head coach already ingrained in the Oak Ridge way.