CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M head football coach Josh Lynn has announced the addition of Levi Gallas, Chase Kyser, Justin Richter, Cody Russell, Shayne Shade, Brian Vaughn and Brendan Faske to the Buffalo Football coaching staff for the 2023 campaign. Graduate assistants Brock Larsen, Jax Bellar and Chris Watkins remain on staff.
 
The Buffs open the season on September 2^nd as they travel to Gunnison, Colorado to take on the Western Colorado Mountaineers in a Super Region Four showdown at the newly renovated Mountaineer Bowl.
 
Levi Gallas
Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Line
 
Gallas comes to Canyon from Nebraska-Kearney where he spent six seasons coaching the defensive line while serving as the Lopers' Defensive Coordinator in 2022.
 
The UNK defense allowed just 18.7 points and 360.1 yards per game last season, holding seven opponents under 19 points. Kearney ranked third in the MIAA in scoring defense and was first in pass efficiency defense (106.5 rating). The Blue & Gold allowed foes to complete only 54% of its passes, the second-best total in the league, while recording 10 interceptions and having 52 pass breakups.
 
Gallas spent five seasons at Eastern New Mexico where he worked with the Greyhound special teams, defensive backs and defensive line. During these seasons ENMU won 20 games and had 10 defensive or special team player named All-LSC. The 'Hounds led the LSC in rush defense in 2014 and 2016 and had the second most interceptions in 2015.
 
He holds a Master's in Health & Physical Education from ENMU and a B.S. in Exercise Science and Sports Administration from Adams State. As a player at Adams State, Gallas was an All-RMAC selection in both football and track. A linebacker on the gridiron, he was a two-time team captain and the team MVP in 2009.
 
He and his wife, Haley, are living in Canyon, Texas with their children, Paxton and Oakley.
 
Chase Kyser
Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks
 
Kyser makes his way to the Panhandle after spending last season as the Offensive Coordinator and wide receivers coach at Texas A&M-Kingsville.
 
The Javelina offense averaged 370.4 yards and 29.9 points per game in 2022, featuring a balanced attack with 203.7 passing and 166.8 rushing yards per contest. TAMUK ranked third in the Lone Star Conference in scoring offense while sitting fourth in total offense and fourth in rushing yards per game.
 
The Roswell, New Mexico native spent the previous four seasons at New Mexico Military Institute where he helped the Broncos to the program's first ever NJCAA Division I National Championship in 2021. NMMI finished the season 12-1 overall as they averaged 432.7 yards of total offense and 40.5 points per game.   
 
Kyser worked with the wide receivers at Chadron State in 2016 following two seasons as a graduate assistant as his alma mater, Eastern New Mexico. Kyser and his wife Morgan are the proud parents of a daughter, Ava and they are expecting their second child this summer.
 
Justin Richter
Defensive Backs / Co-Special Teams Coordinator
 
Richter returns to Canyon following six seasons at Missouri Western State where he worked with the team's defensive backs while serving as the Defensive Coordinator since 2018. The 2021 campaign saw the Griffons allow just 11 touchdowns on the ground while forcing 21 total turnovers (13 interceptions, eight fumbles). 
 
The Truth or Consequences, New Mexico native is no stranger to the Texas Panhandle as he spent the 2015 season at WT working with wide receivers. Richter also has coaching stops at UC-Berkeley, New Mexico, Angelo State and New Mexico Military Institute. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Sports Management from University of Saint Mary (Kanas).
 
Cody Russell
Wide Receivers / Co-Special Teams Coordinator
 
Russell comes to WT with Coach Lynn following four seasons at the University of Nebraska-Kearney where he worked with safeties, cornerbacks and outside receivers while also aided the return game in special teams.
 
In the 2022 season, Russell was part of a defensive unit that only allowed 18.7 points in the MIAA with the cornerback unit only giving up three touchdowns. Veteran cornerback Gabriel Amegatcher earned Second Team All-MIAA honors after having 25 tackles (18 solo) and eight pass breakups. The total tied for the team lead. Next, fellow veterans Jaylen Perkins Sr. and Armani Webster combined for four more PBU's and 37 tackles with this trio accounting for one interception. Their play helped UNK lead the MIAA in pass defense efficiency (106.5) and rank second in opponent pass completion percentage (.544). 
 
In 2021 Russell was apart of a Loper team that ended the season 10-3 with an exit in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Division 2 football playoffs. The defensive unit with Russell at the helm of the cornerback position ranked second in Defensive Pass Efficiency with 124.6 yards per game. Prior to the 2021 fall, Russell coached the outside receivers in the 2021 spring.
 
The Loper secondary amassed seven interceptions, 31 pass breakups and 290 tackles in 2019. UNK went 7-5 and won the Mineral Water Bowl, the program's fourth-ever postseason victory.
 
Before entering the college ranks Russell coached in high school at his alma mater, Traverse City West, on the Varsity level as an assistant coach and as a freshmen head coach after being a hurdler on the Central Michigan track and field team. Also prior to his time at UNK, Russell worked for the Legacy Football Organization in Detroit as a quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator for the 7v7 Legacy Football League.
 
Walking on to the Chippewas track and field team in 2011, Russell turned in top times of 8.71 (60 hurdles), 15.64 (110 hurdles) and 53.21 (400 hurdles) over the next two years. He then focused on football, joining the semi-professional Traverse City Wolves of the Great Lakes Football League during the summer months. He was named to the 2013 All-League team as a defensive back after having seven interceptions, three coming back for scores, 10 PBU's and 15 tackles.
 
A Michigan native, Russell graduated from Central Michigan University in 2016 with a B.A. in Sports Management. He holds a Master in Physical Education from UNK.
 
Shayne Shade
Running Backs / Tight Ends / Recruiting Coordinator
 
Shade comes to Canyon following eight seasons at Nebraska-Kearney where he served as the Recruiting Coordinator while working with multiple positions including the inside receivers, running backs and tight ends since 2020. Shade coached 11 different All-Conference honorees during his time in Kearney.
 
The Des Moines, Iowa native starred along the Northwest Missouri defensive line between 2007-10. Shade then remained in Maryville for four years. He was a graduate assistant coach from 2011-13 and continued to help the Bearcat defensive line in 2014. In his time as a GA, Shade coached five all-conference players as well as an All-American and he was a part of the 2013 squad that went 15-0 and won the NCAA Division II National Championship.
 
As a student-athlete for the Bearcats, Shade was a two-time All-MIAA defensive tackle who also earned All-Region honors as a junior in 2009. Part of four MIAA Championship teams, he helped Northwest finish as National Runner-Up in 2007 and 2008 while claiming the 2009 National Title. Shade and his wife, Michelle, have five children: Richelle, Kayden, Piper, Olive and Marcus.
 
Brian Vaughn
Linebackers
 
Vaughn makes the move to the Texas Panhandle following two seasons as the inside linebackers coach at Nebraska-Kearney.
 
An Illinois native, Vaughn has had coaching stops at Division II Florida Tech, Division III Rhodes (Tenn.) College, Rose-Hulman (Ind.) Institute of Technology, and Western New England (Mass.) University as well as junior college member New Mexico Military Institute. As a player he was a defensive back at Division III Illinois College.
 
Vaughn was the Co-Defensive Coordinator and defensive backs coach at Florida Tech. The Panthers began playing football in 2013 and competed in the tough Gulf South Conference (GSC). Tech reached the 2018 Division II Playoffs but the program was dropped in May 2020 due to financial strains from the ongoing pandemic. Vaughn saw the 2019 Panther defense have 11 interceptions for 125 yards and one score, 21 sacks and five forced fumbles.
 
Brendan Faske
Offensive Graduate Assistant
 
The Bushland, Texas native comes to Canyon following three seasons of working in the defensive side of the ball with the linebackers at Stephen F. Austin.
 
The Lumberjacks claimed the 2022 Western Athletic Conference Championship, allowing just 181.3 yards per game on the ground while forcing 19 total turnovers (11 interceptions, eight fumbles). He also spent one year on staff at Harding.