New but familiar coach leads Angola | IN|All Sports

On Aug 20, 2026

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ANGOLA — When Angola High School administrators went looking for a new head coach to replace Andy Thomas after the longtime Hornet mentor stepped down following a 2025 season that saw Angola win a Class 3A sectional title, they did not have to look very far.

Former DeKalb head coach Seth Wilcox had joined Thomas’ staff as defensive coordinator and was named to take over.

Wilcox is looking forward to the fresh start on the Hornet sideline.

“Being with Andy last year was a great learning experience,” Wilcox said. “I was disappointed when he stepped down because I wanted to keep learning from him.”

Thomas has been a great mentor during the transition process, Wilcox added. “I’ve tended to lean on him. He’s built a great culture here,” Wilcox said.

There are holes to fill, including the losses to graduation of standouts like jack-of-all-trades Hawk Hasselman, tight end Alex Thomas and quarterback Brady Ravis.

Hasselman was the bulk of the Hornet offense last year with 274 carries for 1,329 yards and 17 touchdowns, along with 25 catches for 367 yards and six TDs. He is now at NCAA Division II Hillsdale College in Michigan.

Alex Thomas was the Hornets’ leading receiver with 32 catches for 369 yards and three TDs. He is now at NAIA Marian University in Indianapolis.

And Ravis completed 103-of-170 passes for 1,221 yards with 12 TDs last season. He is staying home for college and is at Trine University.

Wilcox is bullish on the 2026 season.

“There will be some tweaks on both offense and defense, but we’re basically going with the same system defensively,” Wilcox said.

The Hornets’ base defense is a 3-3 stack.

A competition is still in process to find the Hornets’ new QB1, Wilcox said. Running back Landon Bussard and junior Garrett Sorgen are in the mix along with sophomore Ethan Kuster.

Keys to success for the Hornets as they transition to the Wilcox era start with continuing that aforementioned culture cultivated by Andy Thomas.

“Pulling off the comebacks we had in sectionals last year showed how connected we were,” Wilcox said.

Also critical will be just focusing on the seven seconds an average play lasts, Wilcox added.

“We have to carry that focus into everything we do,” Wilcox said.

Senior Carson Ravis said the Hornets are united and focused as they look to move forward with their new coach in a new season.

“We were really connected last year,” Ravis said. “We hang out a lot outside of football, and I feel like if we do that more and more, we’ll become more efficient.”

Echoing his teammate, building a brotherhood is key for senior receiver Brayden Gruner. “Coming together as a team,” Gruner added.

Senior two-way lineman Eric Neilson, meanwhile, said the Hornet defense will be a key to success for Angola in 2026.

“We’re going to be shutout, lights out hopefully,” Neilson said.

Wilcox is assisted by defensive coordinator Myles Geary, along with Nate Ruple, Norm King, Matt Call, Mitch Wolfe, Curt Hasselman, Ryan Funkhouser and Keanan Clemons.

The Hornets open the season Friday night on the road at Goshen. The RedHawks were 2-8 a year ago.

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