A third of the CWAC's nine football teams will have new coaches this fall.

Zeke Fife confirmed Monday afternoon that he stepped down earlier this month after two seasons as Ellensburg head coach. He compiled a 4-16 record, finishing 2-8 overall and 2-6 in conference each season.

Fife spent one season as defensive coordinator at Ellensburg before being promoted to the top post. He held the same position at Davis for three seasons before heading to EHS.

The  2006 West Valley graduate and former Central Washington player also was  a defensive coordinator in Texas and the Tri-Cities, and was the head coach at Class 2B Burbank.

Messages left for Ellensburg athletic director Cole Kanyer were not returned Monday.

The next Bulldogs leader would join coaches at Othello and Grandview as first-year coaches in the CWAC.

Hall of Fame coach Roger Hoell retired after leading the Huskies for 31 years, and racking up 238 victories, including two state championships.

Othello hired Jerome Learman, who has spent the last four years as the director of applied performance science for the University of Tennessee football team in Knoxville.

Grandview made Beau Riley, who assisted on various staffs in Texas. The replacement for Alex Jeffrey. Riley’s wife had received a promotion that brought the family to the area.

Ellensburg coincidentally will open the 2026 season with trips to Othello on Sept. 4, before heading to Grandview on Sept. 11.