Southlake Carroll coach Riley Dodge to step down, take job with SMU football
Southlake Carroll head coach Riley Dodge is stepping down to take a job with SMU football, he announced Wednesday.
Dodge will coach tight ends and serve as the passing game coordinator for the Mustangs.
Dodge, who also served as Carroll ISD’s executive director of athletics, has led the Dragons since 2018, posting an 108-10 overall record. During his tenure, the Dragons won four regional titles and made two state championship game appearances.
“I feel truly blessed to have served as Head Football coach and Athletic Director at Carroll ISD over the past eight years,” Dodge wrote. “Thank you to those who took a chance on a 19-year-old back in 2018. Words cannot fully capture what Southlake, TX means to me — it has been so much more than a job. It has shaped who I am today.”
Dodge, 37, has developed multiple division I quarterbacks, including former Texas standout Quinn Ewers, who made his first start for the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
Dodge was a standout Texas high school football quarterback himself, winning three state championships as a player.
In 2006, Dodge earned MaxPreps National Player of the Year honors. He was named the Gatorade Texas Player of the Year in 2007. In his career at Carroll, he passed for over 8,000 yards and accounted for over 100 TDs.
Prior to being hired as Carroll’s head coach when he was 29 years old, Dodge had stints at Northwest High School and Marcus High School. With Carroll, he developed a reputation as one of the best young offensive minds in Texas high school football.
After his high school career, he played quarterback at North Texas and McNeese, earning Sun Belt all-conference honors. He served as a graduate assistant at Texas A&M and as an offensive analyst at the University of Texas.
Carroll ISD released a statement on Dodge’s departure:
“Carroll ISD extends our heartfelt congratulations to Coach Riley Dodge as he announces his acceptance of an opportunity with Southern Methodist University. From quarterback to Head Football Coach and Athletic Director, Coach Dodge has poured his heart into Dragon Nation — mentoring student-athletes, building character, and continuing a tradition of excellence that has shaped countless lives. He will always have a home at Carroll ISD. Once a Dragon, always a Dragon.
“We thank Coach Dodge for his eight years of service to our district and community, and we wish him the very best as he takes this exciting next step. The District will share more details with our community once we begin the search process for this position.”
This story was originally published December 24, 2025 at 4:07 PM.
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