PHOENIX — After four years with Raymond S. Kellis High School, head football coach Ben Kullos is leaving the Cougars to become the head coach at Sandra Day O'Connor High School.
Kullos announced the move in a social media post on Monday. His full statement is below.
It is with extreme honor that I will be accepting the head football coach position at Sandra Day O'Connor High School. As excited as I am for a new opportunity to lead, the decision to leave this group of Kellis athletes, families, and community weighs heavy on my heart.
When I look back on the last 4 years at Raymond S. Kellis, I am filled with an overwhelming sense of pride and appreciation for everyone who made the journey possible. Every member of the program from player to parent can truly say they were part of team one. A team that did something no on thought possible 4 years ago.
RSK Players/Families- Without you, we would have never gotten off the ground. Thank you for buying in and believing in the greater purpose we set out to achieve. Although my time at RSK has come to an end, I hop all current and former players know that whatever logo I might have on my hat or shirt, Coach Kullos signs #LifetimeContracts. I am never more than a phone call or message away. I hope in our time together you have learned that you are capable of anything you set your mind to. No matter the mountain life may throw in front of you, trust in your ability to climb.
To my new Sandra Day O'Connor community. I look forward to the opportunity to connect with you all later this week. New mountains, same objective, #MakeTheClimb
The school later confirmed the news in a social media post of their own, saying, "O'Connor Football is excited to announce Ben Kullos as our next head football coach! Welcome to O'Connor Coach Kullos!"
Kullos had been the head football coach at Kellis since 2021 and had amassed a record of 30-13 during his four seasons. The Cougars had made the 5A conference playoffs in each of the past two seasons and advanced to the quarterfinals this year.
Kullos led a complete turnaround for the Cougar program, which had won just one game in the three seasons before he took over.
A graduate of Liberty High School in Peoria, Kullos played college football at Dakota State University, an NAIA school in Madison, South Dakota. Prior to becoming the head coach at Kellis, Kullos had been the defensive coordinator at Mountain Ridge High School in Glendale.
Kullos is taking over as O'Connor's head coach for Brian Cole, who was let go after four years as the Eagles' head coach.
Cole went 22-22 in his four seasons at SDO, leading the Eagles to the 6A conference playoffs in 2021, 2023 and 2024 and the Open Division playoffs in 2022. However, the Eagles never advanced past the first round in any of those playoff appearances.
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