By Brian Gosset
Waxahachie’s Shane Tolleson is making his return to the Denton Ryan sideline as the Raiders named him their next head football coach. He takes over for Dave Henigan, who announced his retirement on Jan. 11.
Henigan had spent the past 12 seasons as Ryan’s head coach.
Tolleson was hired by Waxahachie before the 2021 season. He was with Ryan starting in 2013 and in 2014, he became Ryan’s defensive coordinator. While with Ryan, the Raiders went 95-15 and won a state championship in 2020.
This past season, Tolleson led Waxahachie to an 11-2 record and a 6-1 in District 11-6A, tied for first place with DeSoto and Duncanville. The Indians’ best win came in Week 4 when they beat Duncanville 28-27.
Duncanville played in the Class 6A D1 championship in December.
Waxahachie went 11-2 in 2025 – its most wins since 2009. The Indians reached the regional final – also their first since the 2009 season.
Henigan went 141-23 in a dozen years with Ryan.
During his first year in 2014, Ryan went 5-5. Then the Raiders turned back into a state powerhouse under Henigan’s watch. The Raiders went undefeated in the regular season six consecutive years capped off with a 15-0 mark and the state championship in 2020.
Ryan beat Cedar Park 59-14 for the program’s third title.
