Yelm head football coach resigns days before spring practice

Jason Ronquillo, longtime head football coach for Yelm High School, resigned Friday, May 23.
No public statement has been provided by either Ronquillo or Athletic Director Rob Hill regarding the resignation.

Ronquillo led the Tornados to a 3A state championship in 2022, defeating Eastside Catholic 20-13. The win earned Yelm football its first and only state championship to date.

To many outside the program, Ronquillo’s departure was seen as abrupt and unexpected. A source for the Nisqually Valley News, however, said the resignation was the culmination of an unfortunate off-the-field situation that is not related to the football program.

Ronquillo took over Yelm football in 2013, gradually improving the program into a perennial state contender. After winning the state championship in 2022, the Tornados returned to the title game the following year, where they were shut out by Bellevue 14-0.

This past season, the Tornados competed in the 4A South Puget Sound League, losing to Richland 24-20 in their final game of the season.

The team is currently in the process of determining an interim coach.

Yelm’s spring practice is scheduled to begin Monday, June 2.

Ronquillo’s resignation as both head football coach and physical education teacher was announced at a special school board meeting for Yelm Community Schools on Friday, May 23. The meeting was scheduled for 9 p.m.

Cayla Gable, also a high school physical education teacher, was listed as a “nonrenewal” on the school board’s meeting agenda.

As a coach, Gable was regarded for helping to grow Yelm High School’s powerlifting team.

On May 3, the Yelm girls team finished third overall at the Washington State Powerlifting Championships at Olympia High School. Just weeks later, on May 20, Triniti Hickman became Yelm’s first female powerlifter to sign to a college for the sport.

No other contracts were listed on the school board’s special meeting agenda.