OKLAHOMA CITY – Western Heights head football coach J.D. Runnels is leaving the Jets after one year to become the head coach at Mount Saint Mary.

In Runnels’ lone season at the Class 5A school, Western Heights played as an independent, winning its first game since 2019. The Jets went 2-5 with wins over Class A schools Hinton and Watonga.

The Carl Albert graduate’s brother, Lenny Hatchett, was the Rockets’ basketball coach from 2004-2012.

“There is nothing but love in my heart for every Jet,” Runnels said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “It’s a family decision. I need all of my players to understand that.

“U (sic) did everything right, and I’m thankful for your efforts and trust. It’s simply time for me to be an even more active parent.”

In the post, Runnels said he would finish out the school year at Western Heights.

The former Oklahoma fullback was a sixth-round pick of the Chicago Bears in 2006. He saw limited playing time with the Bears in 2006 and was injured in 2007. From 2008-09, Runnels was on the practice squad and in training camp with Tampa and Cincinnati.