YUMA, AZ - After three seasons manning the sidelines for Gila Ridge football, Tyler Kosel is going home.
The North Dakota native accepted a position Thursday to become the new head coach at Fargo South High School.
"A few things were factors [in leaving Arizona]," Kosel told WDAY in Fargo. "My family is still all up in the area. I'd always thought I'd get back in a couple years. It just felt like the right fit."
Kosel replaces Troy Mattern, who won state titles in Class 3A in 2010 and 2013.
In three seasons at Gila Ridge Kosel went 12-18. After finishing 6-4 in 2015, including opening the season with a three-game winning streak, the Hawks struggled last season. They had several players miss time due to injury, a revolving quarterback situation after their expected senior starter chose not to play, and were haunted by slow starts en route to a 1-9 record, the worst i program history.
Kosel attended Valley City State from 2008-12, where he played football. He is from Edgeley, N.D.
