Cordell Resigns as Sonora's AD, Head Coach

SONORA, TX -- Sonora ISD is now searching for a new Athletic Director and head football coach.

Jeff Cordell tendered his resignation with the Sonora ISD school board at a board meeting on Wednesday. The resignation will go into effect June 30.

Cordell has spent the last four years at Sonora.

His first two seasons were spent as a defensive coordinator under David Sine. Once Sine abruptly resigned in 2017, Cordell was promoted to head coach and Athletic Director.

During his two-year head coaching stint in Sutton County, Cordell compiled a 17-7 record, including a 12-1 district championship run in 2017 that saw the Broncos to the Class 3A Division II regional semifinals. They would eventually fall to Childress and finish the season 12-1.

Most recently, Cordell helped the Broncos weather figurative and literal storms in 2018. It seemed as though anything that could go wrong went wrong for Sonora. They battled injuries, a flood and a dismal 2-5 start to the season.

Yet, Cordell and his staff toughed it out and Sonora won their final three games to clinch a playoff spot for a 10th consecutive season.

Cordell told San Angelo LIVE! he plans to stay in coaching. He has 11 years as a head coach and a state championship with Gainesville in 2003 under his belt.

For Sonora, they have a couple of options going forward. The vacant post is likely to be a hot commodity on the coaching market.

With the announcement coming in April, there is time to look at candidates from across the state. However, with the end of the school year nearing, the window to evaluate candidates is not as big as say a winter opening.

But Sonora has the ability to hire from within. Charles Bunch, their current defensive coordinator, has two years head coaching experience during a stop at Gorman High School.

The 2019 Sul Ross State Athletic Hall of Honor inductee has also made stops as a coordinator at San Angelo Central, Pecos and New Braunfels.

Sonora Superintendent Ross Aschenbeck said the vacancy will be posted tomorrow.