Fulton announces next head football coach

FULTON, Mo. (KMIZ)

Fulton High School has found the new leader of its football program.

Roger VanDeZande was named the school's new head football coach on Thursday morning, per a post on Fulton Athletics' social media.

VanDeZande is bringing more than 40 years of high school and college coaching experience to Fulton's football program. Most recently, he served as the head football coach at Russellville (2020), Fayette (2016-18) and Southern Boone (2009-13), and he finished with a 46-49 combined record with those three programs. Between those coaching stops, he also spent two seasons as an assistant football coach at Harrisburg High School (2014-15).

"I'm excited to be joining Fulton High School as Head Football Coach. We have work to do, and we need to start immediately. I believe in the student-athletes in Fulton, and I am privileged to have this opportunity to work with them. We want to build a program of excellence that the entire community can be proud of," VanDeZande said in the social media announcement.

VanDeZande is taking over for Fulton's former head coach Dana Chambers Jr., who led the football program for four seasons. During that stretch, the Hornets posted a 3-36 overall record.