(Photo Courtesy of the New Prairie School Corporation)

Ryan O’Shea is officially the new head football coach at New Prairie High School. He was approved at a school board meeting on Wednesday.

O’Shea spent the previous five seasons as head coach at Lakeland. While his overall record was just 19-31, O’Shea amassed back-to-back .500 seasons in his last two years going 6-4 in 2023 and 5-5 in 2024.

He replaces Casey McKim, who departed New Prairie to become head coach at Lowell. McKim led New Prairie to four consecutive sectional championships and a trip to the state finals in 2022.

“This is one of the premier programs in the state of Indiana, rich with tradition, and high expectations,” O’Shea said in a statement. “New Prairie is truly a dream job of mine. I’m excited to work with the staff, continue that tradition, and build upon it. This program means a lot to me and my family, as my grandfather Frank O’Shea, who is a member Indiana Football Hall of Fame, graduated from New Carlisle High School along with my grandmother. I’ve also learned many lessons of the game from my father Kevin, who is also in the Indiana Football Hall of Fame. I have a passion for being a part of the community and also teaching in the classroom. I love seeing young people succeed in the classroom and on the field. New Prairie is like home to me, and I promise to work hard to make this community proud of the product we will put on the field on Friday nights. Go Cougars!”

Overall New Prairie has gone 13 straight years without a losing season.

New Prairie will open the season on August 22nd on the road at arch rival LaPorte. Longtime and now former New Prairie offensive coordinator Bill Gumm has flipped sides in this rivalry and is now the OC at LaPorte.