Central Oklahoma head coach Adam Dorrel has resigned as the head coach of the Bronchos. Former Emporia State Hornet and Emporia native Cody Swanson, who is currently the team’s defensive coordinator, will take over as the interim head coach. The Bronchos are 2-3 after falling in a 33-31 heartbreaker at Central Missouri last weekend. According to play-by-play commentary from Voice of the Mules Greg Hassler and on video from The MIAA Network, Dorrel chased after officials after the game and his former assistant, now UCM head coach Josh Lamberson, was seen sprinting toward him to diffuse the situation. UCO athletic director Stan Wagnon said in a statement that he acknowledged the job Dorrel did to build up the Broncho program in his five years in Edmond but also said, “This was a difficult decision, but we have a responsibility to the best interests of our student-athletes, the university and Coach Dorrel. His behavior Saturday night was inconsistent with the expectations we have of our leaders. We wish him the best.” Dorrel had previously been suspended by the school after being charged with a DUI in April 2025, but was later reinstated.
Dorrel went 30-21 with the Bronze & Blue and was the MIAA Coach of the Year in 2024 after leading UCO to its first MIAA title and an NCAA Playoff appearance. His career record is 125-61 after spending time at Abilene Christian following a magical run at Northwest Missouri that featured multiple national championships. He’ll be succeeded by Swanson, who played two years at Emporia State from 2018-19 and also spent two years on ESU head coach Garin Higgins’ staff as a graduate assistant from 2020-21. He landed his first full-time job at Gannon in 2022 serving there with another former Hornet assistant coach Bryan Nardo. A full search to replace Dorrel will begin after the season.
