Emotional start to 2026 for Triton Central football

FAIRLAND -- Triton Central football has been on an emotional roller coaster over the first two months of 2026.

In January, head coach Tim Able submitted his resignation to the athletic department and announced his intention to retire at the end of this school year.

Defensive coordinator Tim Kegley, a Triton Central graduate with two decades of experience as an assistant coach, was offered the head coaching position. He immediately accepted.

Then came the news of the death of Bud Mendenhall, the first football head coach in Triton Central history.

“(Bud) was here for the 50-year anniversary. He was part of the lockerroom before the game,” recalled Able, the head coach at Triton Central since 2013. “I would see him every year at the fish fry.”

Mendenhall led the Tigers to a 68-69-1 record from the program’s inception in 1971 through the 1984 season.

Five more head coaches – Joe Fussell (70-82 record), Steve Marcou (6-14), Rob Robertson (37-25), Kevin Kling (20-11) and Gabe Johnson (14-10) – led the Tigers before Able arrived more than a decade ago.

In 13 seasons, Able (photo) won 120 games, six sectional championships, and the program’s only regional title in 2019. The Tigers played in a sectional championship game in each of Able’s 13 seasons in Fairland.

“(Mendenhall) was a good guy. He put his whole heart in it,” said Able. “I trust we made him feel proud about what we did with the program.”

Kegley (photo), a 1995 Triton Central graduate, was a first-year assistant coach in Fairland in 2019.

“I thought I was the greatest coach ever,” said Kegley with a laugh. “My first year and we go to semistate.”

Kegley went to Indiana University after graduating from Triton Central and finished his education at IUPUI in Indianapolis. With no real-life goal, he bounced awhile with several jobs.

“It was great for a single guy, but it wasn’t fulfilling,” he said.

While attending IU, Kegley was an assistant football coach at Edgewood High School. Finding a role in education was always an option.

“It was always something I thought I could do,” he explained. “Once I started getting involved with football again, I knew it was something I wanted to do.”

Kegley applied for football jobs throughout central Indiana. He got two offers – Indianapolis Cathedral, a football powerhouse, and Perry Meridian.

“I knew I would get more out of it and learn more at Perry Meridian,” said Kegley. “It was a lot better experience. I got to sit in meetings, maybe more than I would have at Cathedral. I think it was a good choice.”

Kegley finished his teaching degree, which included student teaching at Warren Central. In a perfect world, he would have been hired there, but nothing has been perfect in Kegley’s journey.

Instead, he took a teaching position at Indian Creek and drove every day to Warren Central for football practice.

One year later, Kegley was hired at Warren Central where he stayed for a decade.

Bobby Thompson, whom Kegley played football with at Triton Central, called to gauge Kegley’s interest in administration. The assistant principal at Triton Central Middle School left for another position and Thompson needed a replacement.

“That was eight years ago and I’ve been coaching with coach Able every year since,” said Kegley.

After a tenure as Dean of Students at the middle school, Kegley moved over to the high school as an assistant principal, filling the role vacated by Rhonda Hill, who became the principal at Triton Central Elementary School.

And now he is the head coach of Triton Central football.

“At Warren Central, I was head freshman coach a little bit. I got a lot of great experience,” said Kegley. “I always felt it was something I wanted to do if the experience presented itself.”

Able knew retirement was imminent but did not walk off the Lapel field after a 28-15 sectional championship game loss on Nov. 7 thinking it was his final game with the Tigers. The timing was just right.

“We’ve talked about this for years. (Kegley) is more than ready,” said Able. “He knows the kids. He knows the program. I’m sure he will do well.”

With the rest of the coaching staff returning, Able expects the leadership change to go smoothly.

“It’s an easy transition for the kids,” said Able. “He has a good rapport with the kids. The staff has a good rapport with the kids.”

Kegley admitted he was surprised by the decision and the subsequent confidence shown in him by the Triton Central administration.

“A few weeks ago, he told me he was going to resign,” said Kegley. “The (administration) came to me and said it was not going to open up the hiring process and they wanted me to be their coach. I was very happy about that. They didn’t go look for anybody.”

Triton Central won at least 10 games in six of the last eight seasons, including going 10-2 in 2025. That consistency allows Able to walk away with confidence that the program will continue to thrive.

“There has been an outpouring of support about where we are,” said Kegley. “We don’t have to change the culture, but we have to do something different when you take over. This offseason is so important.”

Triton Central won the inaugural Hoosier Legends Conference championship last season, but the conference grows to eight schools this fall – adding Class 4A football programs at Shelbyville and Greenwood.

The Tigers will open the 2026 season with non-conference games against Batesville and Indianapolis Scecina followed by seven consecutive weeks against HLC opponents.

That includes a first-ever meeting between Triton Central and Shelbyville in week five at McKeand Stadium. The Golden Bears will play their first game at Bud Mendenhall Field (photo) in 2027.

“I was looking at the schedule and it’s good for us,” said Kegley. “That (Shelbyville) game will be good for the county.”

Kegley wants a demanding schedule to prepare the program for more deep postseasons runs like in 2019.

“I am excited for what’s ahead,” he said.

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