In the world of Texas high school football, coaching changes can define a program's future—and West Plains just made a move that feels both fresh and familiar. Less than a month after Adam Cummings stepped down as head coach, the Wolves have turned to a trusted insider to lead them into the next chapter.

Meet Jeff Lofton, a coach with over two decades of sideline experience across multiple Texas high schools. On Monday, he was officially named the second head coach in West Plains program history—a significant milestone for a team still building its legacy. Lofton is no stranger to the Wolves' locker room; he previously served as the associate head football coach and head powerlifting coach, making this promotion a natural next step.

Lofton steps into big cleats. Cummings, who led the program for four seasons, posted an impressive 42-13 record and guided the Wolves to the playoffs every year. The 2025 season was especially strong, with a trip to the quarterfinal round and a second straight undefeated District 2-4A Division I championship. Cummings will now take on a new role as Executive Director of Schools and Leadership within Canyon ISD, leaving behind a winning culture that Lofton is eager to build upon.

Before joining West Plains, Lofton spent 13 years at Idalou High School—nine of them as head football coach and athletic director. During his tenure, the Wildcats went 73-33, proving his ability to develop consistent winners. Lofton, a 1997 Idalou graduate, began his coaching career there as an assistant in 2009 before being named head coach at just 34 years old.

Interestingly, Lofton nearly took the head coaching job at Brownfield in 2023, but chose to remain at West Plains as an assistant. Now, a few years later, he's ready to lead the program he helped build from the ground up. For a team that's quickly become a powerhouse in the Texas Panhandle, the future looks bright with Lofton at the helm.