The Hixson Wildcats lost their head coach earlier this week when Josh Owensby stepped down to take an offensive analyst position with the Soddy Daisy football program.
However, it didn’t take them long to name a replacement as the school has hired from within by promoting defensive coordinator and former UTC Mocs football player, Nick Rivers.
Rivers is also a graduate of Hixson where he had a phenomenal career. According to the UTC website, here’s how he fared as a player for the Wildcats.
“Collected 92 tackles as a senior to lead the Wildcats … Also credited with six tackles for loss and six forced fumbles … Recovered four fumbles and returned two for touchdowns … Caught one touchdown pass as a tight end … Named to Chattanooga Times Free Press Best of Preps All-City Team … A Preseason Super 13 selection … Won HHS’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award senior year … Voted team captain as a junior and senior … Elected Most Outstanding Sophomore … Team went 6-5 his sophomore and senior years and 5-5 his junior season”
He has also spent the previous four seasons on the Hixson staff in which the last three he was the defensive coordinator.
According to the Chattanooga Times Free Press, Rivers is ecstatic about the opportunity ahead of him…
“It’s an amazing honor and really it’s just surreal because I was on jayvee as a ninth grader, so it’s humbling to go from that to now being the head coach at my alma mater,” Rivers said. “Josh did a great job of preparing me for this moment. He gave me the defense, to where it was like I was the head coach of the defense, and I just wanted to be the best coach I could be on the staff.”
“The players met with our administration and requested me to be the new coach, which honestly brought tears to my eyes. Just the fact that a group of young men wanted me to lead them, that’s truly humbling. I think the fact that I’m familiar with Hixson will really help us keep the program going in the right direction. I love the school, that’s the reason I came back here, and want to see our program and our guys succeed and have the same opportunities I had.”
While success has been difficult to come by for Hixson in recent years, the team finished the regular season at 5-5 and qualified for the TSSAA Playoffs for the first time since 2016. The team did lose in their first round match-up against Stone Memorial 37-0.
Hixson Athletic Director Brian Bray had some very strong words in support of Rivers as he embarks on this journey (TFP)
“Football aside, Nick is a man of high character and quality, he’s a great mentor to our kids and is a great asset to have at our school. It’s time to have someone who knows our school to be in charge of the program, so it’s a great day for Hixson.”
The Wildcats begin the season next year at home against East Hamilton on Friday, August 18th.
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