STWF Sports | DALLAS | Dec. 30, 2025 — A familiar football voice is back on the sideline, and this time it carries both legacy and opportunity. The Dallas Renegades officially introduced Rick Neuheisel as the franchise’s new head coach on Tuesday, marking his return to coaching after a seven-year hiatus and the beginning of a new chapter for the organization.
Neuheisel, who replaces retired championship coach Bob Stoops, met with the media to outline his vision for the Renegades, touching on Texas roots, spring football’s purpose, and the challenge of sustaining success in a league built on development as much as results.
“This feels like a great fit,” Neuheisel said. “I’ve always believed in spring football and what it represents. I lived it as a player, and now I get to help shape it as a coach.”
That belief dates back to Neuheisel’s playing days with the San Antonio Gunslingers, an experience he referenced often when discussing his understanding of the spring football ecosystem. For Neuheisel, the UFL is not merely an alternative football product—it is a proving ground.
The timing of his arrival is notable. The Renegades recently relocated operations to Frisco, a city widely regarded as one of the nation’s premier sports hubs. That move presents both an opportunity and a challenge: reconnecting with long-time Dallas fans while building a new base in a growing football market.
“Frisco is a sports town,” Neuheisel said. “There’s an appetite for football here, but it’s about relationships. You honor the past while embracing the future. We want fans to feel like this is their team, whether they’ve been with us from the start or are just discovering us.”
Fan expectations, however, are anything but modest. Under Stoops, the Renegades captured a UFL championship, establishing a standard that Neuheisel is fully aware of.
“When you inherit a winner, there’s no reset button,” he said. “There’s a responsibility to uphold what’s been built. My immediate vision is to create a team that’s disciplined, competitive, and connected—on the field and in the community.”
That vision extends beyond wins and losses. Player development remains a central pillar of the United Football League, and Neuheisel emphasized that preparing athletes for the next level is not optional—it’s essential.
The topic came into sharp focus when Neuheisel was asked about balancing competitiveness with development, particularly in light of former Renegades tight end Sal Cannella recently earning an opportunity with the Cleveland Browns.
“That’s the model,” Neuheisel said. “You want to win, absolutely. But you also want players leaving here better than they arrived—technically, mentally, and professionally. When guys move on to the NFL, that validates everything we’re doing.”
Neuheisel’s approach is shaped by decades across every layer of football: player, college head coach, NFL assistant, spring league coach, and broadcaster. That breadth gives him a unique perspective in a league still carving out its identity.
“There’s urgency in spring football,” he said. “Short camps, quick turnarounds—you have to teach fast and trust faster. That excites me.”
As the Renegades prepare for the upcoming season, Neuheisel’s message was clear. Respect the championship banner, embrace the league’s mission, and build a culture that resonates from the locker room to the stands.
For a franchise entering a new era in a new city, the Renegades are betting that experience, vision, and belief in spring football will once again put them in position to compete—and to develop the next wave of professional talent.
