Submitted photo – Nick White returns for his second stint in charge of the Del Norte Warriors this year.

By Ray Hamill — Almost half the H-DNL football programs will feature new head coaches this fall, with a sizable turnover from last year.

Four of the nine varsity teams welcome new head coaches, a group that includes Arcata, Del Norte, South Fork and Hoopa.

Some of them, however, are familiar names to North Coast fans, including two who are returning to the sideline after a break.

Up in Crescent City, Nick White returns to the fold to take over from Darren LaFazio.

White previously served as head coach at Del Norte from 2019 to 2022 and during his four years in charge of the Warriors, he oversaw the most successful run in program history.

He led Del Norte to three Big 4 championships in his three full seasons — there was no official league during the COVID-shortened spring season of 2021 — while posting an outstanding overall record of 34-8 (12-0 in the Big 4).

White’s first game back will be at Oakland High School on Aug. 28.

Also returning to the sidelines this fall is longtime South Fork head coach Karl Terrell.

Terrell, who led the Cubs to a first-ever North Coast Section championship in 2023, replaces Brandon Coborn, who stepped down after one year in charge.

The Cubs will play eight-person football again this fall, opening against California School for the Deaf in early September.

The Hoopa Warriors will also feature a new head coach this fall, with former Warrior Tashone Rice taking over from Curtis Kane.

And early indications are positive for the new coach.

After practicing with the Hoopa players this summer, McKinleyville head coach Jason Benge walked away impressed with the impact Rice is having on the program this summer.

“I really like what their coach is doing,” Benge said.

Last year, Hoopa finished up 2-8 on the season, and with just a handful of returning varsity players this fall it might take a while for the Warriors to find their feet.

Nick White

But with a strong class of juniors, Rice should have the opportunity to get the program back on track in the near future.

“My junior group have all been playing together a long time, so they do have chemistry,” Rice said. “And I feel like they’re hungry.”

Rice and the Warriors open the new season at Trinity on Aug. 28.

Arcata High will also feature a new head coach this year after Matt Magers stepped down.

Magers enjoyed a successful run with the program, leading the Tigers to a first-ever NCS championship and a first-ever state championship two years ago.

As of early August, Arcata has yet to announce who the new head coach will be, but an announcement is expected early in the month.