KERENS — A new era has started in Kerens Bobcat football with the hire of Coach Brent Watkins as the head coach and athletic director. Coach Watkins comes into the position with tons of success and experience after spending the previous fifteen seasons as the defensive coordinator at Malakoff including winning the state championship last season.
Speaking with Coach Watkins on the move, he said, “I was familiar with the program. I have been friends with the Superintendent and friends and fishing buddies with Coach Gerald Hurd for a long time. I watched multiple Kerens games over the years in person as my schedule allowed. I had a defensive line coach at Malakoff that was ready for the defensive coordinator position and I wanted the opportunity to elevate this program to the next level.”
Coach Watkins is stepping into a situation where the cupboard is hardly bare. The Bobcats made the playoffs each of the last two seasons finishing the 2023 season with a 4-2 record in district and taking fourth place in district after tie-breakers.
“Our number one goal for the season is not just to get back to the playoffs, but to make it past the first round. It is going to take a different mentality for the players. We have been preaching about being tough, mentally and physically, and overcoming adversity. We have an extremely tough schedule and they must have the work ethic and toughness to overcome. Battling through that tough of a schedule can make us harder for district play. We will be battle-tested.”
The Bobcats have one of the toughest non-district schedules in the area. In non-district play, the Bobcats face two nine-win teams, a 10-win team, and an 11-win team from last season, all that before playing a competitive district schedule.
Coach Watkins continued, “We will look different than in the last few seasons. I am a firm believer that games are won in the trenches and toughness. The pros and colleges are trying to make the game flashier and high-scoring but games are still won and lost in the trenches and how you respond. No plan is going to be perfect, things are going to go wrong at times but you have to retain the mental toughness to respond when things do not go your way.”
Speaking on the players, Coach Watkins said, “They have bought into the system and what we are doing here so far. We have forty-plus players showing up every day for summer workouts. Three out of the four days this last week, I have never had a group work as hard as they did on those days. Trusting the system and the process is key. They are putting in the work.”
The Kerens Bobcats are in good hands with Coach Watkins and are primed to take that next step in the life of their program.
