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o'hara and ross 2026

Football David Salley

O'Hara, Ross Announced as New Coordinators for Reddie Football

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Henderson State head football coach Greg Holsworth has announced the hiring of Ryan O'Hara as the Reddies' offensive coordinator and the promotion of cornerbacks coach Chuck Ross to defensive coordinator.

The two coordinator hires headline several staff additions, promotions, and title changes in preparation for spring practice and the 2026 campaign.

O'Hara's most recent stop was at the University of Florida, where he served as quarterbacks coach and an offensive analyst for the Gators for the last four seasons. During his time in Gainesville, O'Hara oversaw the development of several signal-callers, including Indianapolis Colts quarterback and first-round NFL Draft selection Anthony Richardson, 2023 Davey O'Brien Award semifinalist Graham Mertz, and two-year starter DJ Lagway. O'Hara was the lead recruiter for Lagway and helped the Gators pull the 2023 MaxPreps National Player of the Year from Texas to The Swamp.

"I'm incredibly excited to have coach O'Hara join our football program," Holsworth said. "His pedigree and acumen from working at the highest levels of college football speak for themselves. To add a coach of his caliber to our staff is a testament to the trajectory of our program. I know he will be a tremendous resource for our quarterbacks, and his presence will elevate our offense as a whole."

In his role at Florida, O'Hara was responsible for game-planning the passing game, the red-zone offense, and third downs. He was the Gators' interim offensive coordinator and play-caller for the final five games of the 2025 season, which included matchups against Georgia, Ole Miss, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Florida State. In his final game in Gainesville, O'Hara's offense racked up 440 yards to help lead Florida to a 40-21 victory over the rival Seminoles.

Prior to his time at Florida, O'Hara was on Billy Napier's staff at Louisiana from 2018-21, where he worked as quarterbacks coach and was an offensive quality control analyst. The Rajun Cajuns were 34-6 during his last three seasons on staff, won the 2021 Sun Belt title, and achieved the highest ranking in program history when they were slotted No. 15 nationally in 2021.

O'Hara, a former Elite 11 quarterback and NCAA Division II standout at Central Oklahoma, began his coaching career at the high school level in Southern California in 2008. Since transitioning to the college level at Santa Monica College in 2013, he has made stops at Mt. San Antonio Junior College and Alabama A&M, where he was the offensive coordinator for the Bulldogs in 2016 and 2017.

Joining O'Hara on the Reddies' staff is Gavin Pruett, who will serve as Henderson State's tight ends coach. Pruett worked alongside O'Hara for two seasons at the University of Florida in 2022 and 2023 as an offensive assistant for quarterback development. He has spent the last two years as a graduate assistant for quarterbacks at the University of Charlotte and the offensive coordinator at Point Loma High School in San Diego, California. In his lone season at Point Loma, Pruett led the program to an 11-1 record and its first league championship in 14 years.

On the other side of the ball, the Reddies have turned the reins of the defense over to cornerbacks coach Chuck Ross, whose unit impressed during the 2025 season. 

Under Ross's tutelage, the Reddies surrendered the lowest completion percentage in the Great American Conference (50%) and recorded as many interceptions (12) as touchdown passes allowed. The Reddies' secondary gave up just 168.3 passing yards per game and ranked No. 14 nationally in pass efficiency defense (108.6). Three Henderson corners earned All-GAC recognition in Ross's first season – Second Teamers Paul Manning and De'vonta Roberts, and Third Team selection Kolbi Crawford.

"Coach Ross is a rising star in our industry and has earned the opportunity to be our defensive coordinator," Holsworth said. "He did tremendous work during his first year with our program and has earned the trust and confidence of our players with how he approaches the game every day. I look forward to seeing our continued defensive success under his leadership."

2026 Henderson State Football Staff
Greg Holsworth - Head Coach
Will Wagner - Assistant Head Coach / Special Teams Coordinator / Safeties
Chuck Ross - Defensive Coordinator / Cornerbacks
Ryan O'Hara - Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks
Jake Warehime - Offensive Line / Run Game Coordinator
Dalton Bowles - Wide Receivers
Darius Carey - Defensive Line
Logan Moragne - Running Backs
Gavin Pruett - Tight Ends
Tim Jennings - Assistant Defensive Backs
Blake Blackman - Assistant Defensive Line
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Players Mentioned

Kolbi Crawford

#27 Kolbi Crawford

DB
6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
Paul Manning

#11 Paul Manning

DB
6' 1"
Senior
De

#8 De'vonta Roberts

DB
5' 10"
Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Kolbi Crawford

#27 Kolbi Crawford

6' 1"
Redshirt Senior
DB
Paul Manning

#11 Paul Manning

6' 1"
Senior
DB
De

#8 De'vonta Roberts

5' 10"
Graduate Student
DB