In a significant move for West Texas high school football, Big Spring athletic director and head football coach Cannon McWilliams is departing after nine seasons to take on the same dual roles at Crane. McWilliams confirmed the transition, marking the end of a seven-year tenure as the Steers' head coach where he compiled a 31-43 record, including a 5-5 finish last season.

"I had a great time at Big Spring," McWilliams said. "We had great kids, a great admin. But you get that feeling every now and then where the timing is right... It just felt right and it felt like it was time." His departure coincides with a period of change for Big Spring, which is dropping from Class 4A Division I to Division II following the latest UIL realignment due to declining enrollment.

McWilliams now steps into a vacancy at Crane created when Robert Ontiveros stepped down after two seasons. He inherits a Golden Cranes program coming off a 6-5 season and first-round playoff exit, but one with a passionate fanbase. "Crane is one of those jobs that has a storied tradition of winning, and you get a lot of community support," McWilliams noted, highlighting the town's famed Friday night atmosphere.

For Big Spring, the search begins for a new leader to guide the Steers into a new district featuring rivals like Snyder and Monahans. For McWilliams, a well-traveled coach with previous stops at Andrews, Sonora, and Irion County, the move to Crane represents a fresh challenge at a program known for its deep community ties and football tradition.