Coach has felt lifelong calling to mentor kids
September 23, 2009
Even though high school football isn't played on Sunday, Keller High School's head football coach, Kevin Atkinson, feels like a minister.
Atkinson is in his eighth season as the Indians skipper but has been coaching 18 years. He said he knew from an early age he wanted to be a high school coach.
"I feel like its kind of a calling," he said of why he became a coach. "Even when I was in high school, I liked helping kids. It's almost a like a ministry about life and how to become a man, to me."
Atkinson was born and raised in Granbury and played both offense and defense in high school before attending Northwest Missouri to play defensive back. He transferred to Stephen F. Austin University and finished playing as a receiver there.
He said being named best coach isn't something he was expecting.
"I'm very honored," he said. "I didn't know anything about it, but I'm very humbled and honored that someone would consider me the best coach."
In addition to being coach, Atkinson is the school's athletic coordinator.
When away from football, Atkinson said he likes to spend time with his family. He lives in Keller with his wife of 17 years, Chrissy, and their three children, Lexi, 12, Colton, 11, and Abby, 7.