Chandler High to begin search for new football coach
Garretson, who won 2 state titles, is retiring
Courtesy of Chandler High School
Rick Garretson poses with some of his Chandler High School football players at a signing event last summer. Garretson has decided to retire and a search for his replacement to lead the Wolves starts after Thanksgiving break.
Chandler High School announced its football coach, Rick Garretson, has made the decision to retire, effective immediately.
The announcement came shortly after the Wolves’ 2024 season ended Nov. 15 with a 27-24 first-round playoff loss to Chandler Unified School District rival Perry.
Garretson will stay on as a faculty member for the remainder of the school year and will help with the transition when a new coach is hired, a news release states.
The school said Garretson is looking forward to spending more time with his family, children and grandchildren.
The release stated Garretson would is grateful for the support, guidance, and opportunities from student-athletes past and present, his coaching staff, teaching colleagues and CUSD administrators.
“It has been a pleasure collaborating with a team so dedicated to seeing the football program thrive and succeed,” Garretson said in the release.
Garretson stated he’d also like to thank the Chandler community for the numerous ways it has supported the Wolves’ football program through the years.
Garretson first came to Chandler High School in 2010. Coach Jim Ewan hired Garretson to develop the wide receivers.
Garretson then became the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator under Shaun Aguano in 2012, later becoming the offensive coordinator.
Garretson then took on the role of head coach in 2019, leading the Wolves to undefeated seasons and Open Division championships in his first two campaigns, followed by a narrow 2022 championship game loss and a pair of first-round playoff appearances.
His teams went a combined 57-13, with a handful of the wins coming against out-of-state teams. The Wolves have remained consistently highly ranked not only in Arizona, but also nationally.
Garretson has racked up a long list of coaching accolades through the years, such as coach of the year from various publications and organizations, as well as being invited to coach in the All-American Bowl.
Chandler High administration will begin the hiring process by posting the head coach position after the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, the release stated.
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Jason W. Brooks News Editor | Chandler Independent
Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.
Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.
Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.
Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.
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