WAKE UP! MONDAY EDITION | Looking at all the new head football coaches in East Texas, and a reminder to check out The Bulletin Board
EDITOR’S NOTE: Wake Up! is our daily update, presented by Cozy Coffee Station, with locations in Kilgore (110 Midtown Plaza) and Gilmer (755 Highway 271 North), and even in Allen, if you find yourselves out that way. Check out their menu and all sorts of things CCs here at their website: Home | Cozy Coffee Station, and go by and see them for great drinks, snacks and even sandwiches all day!
Coaching changes
We’ve talked about Henderson and the return of Ricky Meeks to lead the Lions’ football program (2025 ETBLITZ FOOTBALL PREVIEW / HENDERSON | Meeks returns, and Lions fans, get ready for a ride | Presented by WHATABURGER), and a handful of other coaches.
But just in case anyone wants to know who all of the new coaches are in East Texas — as in, in their first season with their programs in 2025 — here’s a list.
Henderson: It’s been well-documented here on ETBlitz.com, but Ricky Meeks assumes the reins of the Lions’ football program. The son of late former coach Dickey Meeks, Ricky is back in Henderson, where he helped his dad guide the Lions to a state championship in 2010. Henderson went 6-4 under former player Clay Baker last year, a drastic turnaround from a two-win season in 2023. But Baker resigned after the season to go back to Carlisle, where his father Rocky coached for decades. Meeks accepted the position on Feb. 12; he had been the head coach at Center, where he had a 24-20 record in four years.
Gladewater: Former coach Jonny Louvier decided after the 2024 season to leave coaching, and Jermaine Lewis is now the head Bear, Gladewater’s new head football coach and AD (athletic director). The Bears had Louvier for five seasons, and went 4-6 last year. Lewis was an in-house hire: he was the assistant AD to Louvier and was promoted to the head job.
Rusk: Joining Meeks in Henderson will be Thomas Sitton, who had been the coach and AD at Rusk the last five years. Sitton will be the Lions’ defensive coordinator on Meeks’ staff. The Eagles replace Sitton with former Whitehouse defensive coordinator Cody Welch, hired in March. Rusk went 2-8 in 2024 and 28-27 in the five years under Sitton. Sitton, who is from Cushing, guided Chapel Hill to a 3A state title in 2012.
Jacksonville: It’s a new day in Jacksonville, with Montey Stevenson hired as the new head coach in February. Jason Holman’s Indians finished 1-9 in 2024, and that was his third and last season with the Indians, who went 4-26 since August, 2022. Stevenson was the defensive coordinator at Alvarado.
Mabank: This district rival of Kilgore, Henderson and Pine Tree brought Shawn Copeland in as the new head coach for 2025. Former coach Zack Hudson departs after seven seasons for Eustace. If Copeland’s name is familiar, it’s because he’s the former coach and athletic director at Spring Hill. Mabank went 1-9 a year ago.
Mineola: From the “that didn’t take long” department, former coach Aaron Slider announced his retirement after just two seasons, and former Yellowjackets coach Luke Blackwell, who had been only the AD the last three seasons, is back as the head football coach. The Yellow Jackets went 2-9 in 2024.
Mount Vernon: Clayton George has left the Tigers’ program after two seasons and a 2-8 record in ’24, and the new head coach is Travis McClain, who comes to MVHS from Rivercrest.
Center: The Roughriders had Meeks, and an impressive offense, for four seasons, but he’s moved on to Henderson. Center brings in former Aubrey offensive coordinator Nick Brown as its new coach.
Pittsburg: More changes in Center: defensive coordinator John Huffstetler leaves after the time there with Meeks, taking over as new head coach and athletic director for the Pirates. Pittsburg had Triston Abron for four years – Abron won a state title at Paul Pewitt six seasons ago, but something wasn’t working in Pittsburg, where they finished 1-9 last year, but missed the playoffs three straight seasons.
New Diana: Jason Pitts guided New Diana to an excellent 11-1 season last year, but he’s gone, taking his 21 wins in two seasons with him to Ozona. Former Pine Tree head coach Kerry Lane, the former Gilmer assistant, takes over at ND as AD and head football coach.
Edgewood: One of the few situations where a program finished with a fairly-good record (8-4) in 2024. Alex Guerra is out after four seasons, and in is former Howard Payne head coach Kevin Bachtel, a “Back to the Future” situation. Bachtel returns to Edgewood, where he was head coach for four seasons.
Elysian Fields: Bo Maines comes in to lead the Yellowjackets, who were a playoff team in 2024 (a 7-4 record) under former coach Justin Crow. Maines was an assistant at Azle before coming to EF.
Carlisle: As mentioned, Clay Baker is back to a comfortable spot: Baker was the head coach at Carlisle from 2018-22, but then left for Henderson, his alma mater. After guiding a turnaround last year, Baker resigned and is back at Carlisle. Connor Sharp was Carlisle’s coach the last two seasons, but in 2024, the Indians went 1-9.
Harleton: The Wildcats have a new head coach after the departure of Kyle Little, who led them for six seasons and had a record of 36-30 in that time frame. Eric Droddy, formerly the head coach at both Queen City and Trinity, will be the Widcats’ new head coach. Little has accepted the same position at Honey Grove.
Ore City: Jeremy Kubiak and the Rebels finished 0-10 last year, and now he’s out, after only one season. In fact, Justin Arnold – the former Overton head coach and AD, and a Mustang alumni – is Ore City’s new head coach and should provide stability there. Arnold will be their fourth head coach in four seasons.
Buffalo: The Bison are in the district with West Rusk, Arp and Troup, and lose coach Jamin Savell after three seasons (Buffalo was 9-23 under Savell, including a 1-9 mark last year. Former Silsbee offensive coordinator Trent Jones was hired as new head coach and AD.
Elkhart: Cody Day has left the Elks after two seasons, and is off to Coldspring. Ryan Blackmon, Day’s special teams coach, is the new head football coach at Elkhart, who finished 3-7 in ’24.
Mart: Turns out, Overton’s upset of Mart in the second round last year would be the last game as Panthers head coach for Kevin Hoffman, who guided the Panthers to six appearances in state championship games – and three state titles (2017, 2018 and 2019). Hoffman went 121-13 in his time at Mart. The Panthers’ new head coach is Chris Lancaster, who comes to Mart from Robinson.
Lufkin: Carl Abseck takes over for Todd Quick, who was an assistant coach for the late John Outlaw. Quick was the Panthers’ coach for 13 seasons, and finished with a 94-52 record at Lufkin. This hire happened all the way back on Jan. 30.
Ennis: Sam Harrell, who won three state championships and 247 games as the head coach of the Lions, has retired, and Don Drake, formerly at McKinney Boyd, is the new head coach. This one also happened in January.
Bulletin Board updated again
The ETBlitz.com Bulletin Board, designed to let you guys know when things are happening in all of the communities we cover, was updated again this morning.
All kinds of things hit The Bulletin Board, from fund-raiser golf tournaments to car wash fund-raisers, ticket sales to band, cheer and drill team events. The Bulletin Board is for you guys. It’s free to put things in, kind of like an old-style community classified section. If anyone thinks their event should be in The Bulletin Board, contact me, Mitch Lucas, at mlucas@etblitz.com. And the Bulletin Board is presented each week by Clower Meats in Kilgore, making East Texas happy — and full — since 1969.
Click here for today’s Bulletin Board update: ETBLITZ BULLETIN BOARD, presented by CLOWER MEATS | Updated Monday, Aug. 18
