Riley Dodge is making a significant shift in his football coaching career, leaving behind his impressive legacy at Southlake Carroll High School to assume a new role at Southern Methodist University (SMU). The announcement, which came on Christmas Eve, was covered extensively by local media outlets, including WFAA and Southlake Style.
At SMU, Dodge will be serving as the passing game coordinator and tight ends coach, an opportunity that catapults him from the high school scene to the collegiate level. His new title was confirmed by Southlake Style. The Carroll ISD community, where Dodge spent eight years as athletic director and head football coach, regrets his departure but congratulates him nonetheless. "Words cannot fully capture what Southlake, TX means to me - it has been so much more than a job," Dodge wrote, a sentiment echoed by Carroll ISD Board President Cam Bryan, who said, "Riley Dodge’s impact on our students, families, and community goes far beyond football," in a statement obtained by WFAA.
Under Dodge's leadership, the Carroll High School football program not only enjoyed local dominance but also national recognition. His coaching record speaks for itself, with a staggering 108–10 record over his tenure, heralding multiple district championships and state title game appearances. “He is a leader of integrity who has represented Carroll ISD with distinction, and we are deeply grateful for the commitment and passion he has shown our Dragons,” Bryan told WFAA. Dodge's association with Carroll runs in his blood, as a former student and standout quarterback for the Dragons, his roots in the community are profound.
The move to SMU marks a pivotal moment, both for Carroll ISD and Dodge himself. While Carroll ISD begins the search for a worthy successor, Dodge gears up to face new challenges in the collegiate arena. Dodge's decision to leave Carroll may have surprised some fans, according to Southlake Style, yet it underscores a career trajectory that continues to ascend. Both his past accolades as a Carroll Dragon and his present endeavors at SMU speak to the caliber of his coaching ability and the potential impact he will have on the future of SMU's football program.
