Wildcats stay true to their identity as they head into the 2026 season

By Truman Begaye
Special to the Times

CHINLE

While many football programs spend the offseason measuring themselves against their competition, Chinle head coach Pita Olomua has taken a different approach.

As the Wildcats prepare for the 2026 season, the focus has remained on refining the team’s identity, an offensive built around a physical running game and effective play-action passing.

“I just wanted to focus on what we do because we’re not a passing team. We could be, but we do a lot of play-action and stuff like that,” said Olomua, who enters his sixth season as Chinle’s head coach. “I don’t pay attention to that (other) stuff. Whoever wants to do that, good for them. Me, I just focus on my team, my kids and what we need to do.”

That identity is made even stronger by experience. Chinle returns nearly its entire offensive core, including standout running back Cody Curley, who rushed for more than 1,100 yards in nine games last season.

The Wildcats also return all their running backs, offensive linemen and two experienced quarterbacks, giving Olomua confidence heading into the fall.

To read the full article, please see the Aug. 6, 2026, edition of the Navajo Times.

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