Shocking news hit the Texas Panhandle football community Monday evening when Canyon ISD announced that Canyon Eagles head football coach Todd Winfrey has been removed from his position. The district confirmed the move in a brief press release, stating that offensive coordinator and Canyon graduate Matt Lovorn will assume the role of acting head coach for the foreseeable future.
“As of Monday, October 6th, Matt Lovorn, the current Associate Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator, will assume the role of Acting Head Coach for the Canyon High School football program,” the district’s statement read. “Canyon ISD will not provide further comment at this time as this is an ongoing personnel matter.”
The announcement comes as a surprise to many in the community. Winfrey, a fixture in the program for more than two decades, had been on staff for 25 years and led the Eagles as head coach for the past five. During his tenure, Winfrey compiled a 36–14 overall record, including a strong 4–1 start to the current season. Canyon was idle last week and is preparing to open District 2-4A Division I play against crosstown rival West Plains at 7 p.m. Friday at Happy State Bank Stadium.
No reason for Winfrey’s removal was provided by Canyon ISD or athletic director John Peterson, who reiterated in an email to local media that “Canyon ISD will not provide further comment at this time as this is an ongoing personnel matter.”
Under Winfrey’s leadership, the Eagles enjoyed consistent success. In his first four seasons, Canyon went 8–3, 10–2, 9–3, and 5–5. The program made the playoffs three of those four years before narrowly missing out last season. Winfrey succeeded longtime head coach Blake Bryant, who retired after the 2020 season. Prior to becoming head coach, Winfrey spent 18 years as Canyon’s offensive coordinator and was a steady presence on the staff for more than two decades.
While the reasons for his removal remain unclear, Canyon ISD’s decision creates an immediate challenge as the Eagles prepare for the heart of their district schedule. Fortunately, the program will turn to a familiar and capable leader in interim head coach Matt Lovorn.
Lovorn is in his third season with Canyon as offensive coordinator and associate head coach. Before returning to his alma mater, he enjoyed an impressive run at Stratford High School, where he led the Elks to an 89–17 record over eight seasons and guided the program to the 2021 UIL Class 2A Division II state championship. Lovorn’s experience and ties to the community make him a logical choice to guide the Eagles through this period of uncertainty.
With district play about to begin and emotions running high, Lovorn will need to steady the team quickly. The Eagles have looked strong offensively through the first five games, a testament to Lovorn’s system and leadership on that side of the ball. Now, he’ll have to balance play-calling duties with the broader responsibilities of leading one of the Panhandle’s most respected football programs.
As Canyon prepares to face West Plains under new leadership, fans and players alike are left with more questions than answers. For now, Canyon ISD is remaining tight-lipped, and the community will have to wait for clarity on what prompted the sudden change.
