Douglas Makes Changes to AD and Football Coach for 2024-25

Douglas High School announced the retirement of Activities Director Doug Hughes, the promotion of football head coach Jay Rhoades to the position of AD, and Drew Hodgs as the new head football coach of the Bearcats on Wednesday night.

*Per a media release from Douglas High School

Hughes will be retiring at the end of this year. Hughes has been the Bearcat Activities Director for the past five years. He also coached football, and track and served as the activities director in Lander from 2005-2016. His career has spanned 34 years coaching multiple sports with stops in Belle Fourche, SD, Lander, and Douglas.

Moving into the Activities Director position will be long-time Bearcat football coach, Jay Rhoades. Rhoades has been the football coach in Douglas for the past 18 years. In this time the Bearcats have compiled a record of 136 wins and 44 losses, with seven appearances in the state title game and winning three championships in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Prior to Douglas, Rhoades was the head football coach in Chadron, NE where the Cardinals went 35-13.

Stepping into the head football position will be Bearcat assistant coach, Drew Hodgs pending board approval. Hodgs was the Bearcat’s quarterback in Rhoades’ first season in 2006 where he led the Bearcats to the state title game. Hodgs went on to be a 4-year starting quarterback at Black Hills State University from 2007- 2010. He served as an assistant coach in Lead-Deadwood, SD in the 2011 and 2012 seasons before returning to Douglas to teach and coach in his hometown. Hodgs has been an integral part of coordinating the Bearcat offense during his eleven years as an assistant.