Cowan Leaves Statesville To Take Over South Iredell Football

A South Iredell alum has been named the school’s new football coach and in so doing the Statesville High School head coaching position is open.

South Iredell announced on Friday that former Viking Rydell Cowan is returning to his alma mater following a four-year stint as Statesville High’s head football coach. He replaces Lee Linville after Linville and South Iredell parted ways in April.

A member of the Vikings football team from 1996-99, Cowan played quarterback, running back and free safety before graduating in 2000 and going on to play at Appalachian State.

Cowan spent 12 years as an assistant at South Iredell, which included the 2012 2AA state championship campaign. The last five of those seasons he served as offensive coordinator, and he coached running backs and receivers there.

In 2022, Statesville made Cowan a first-time head coach, hiring him to replace Randall Gusler, who retired after 16 seasons leading the Greyhounds. In four seasons, Cowan compiled a 32-15 record including 8-4 in 2025.

South Iredell was 3-8 this past season.

Statesville Record & Landmark