Over 100 people attended the first meet-and-greet for Trigg County football coach Curtis Higgins on Monday, days after a meeting that attracted 70 kids who have shown interest in the program.
During the event at the school’s Little Theater, Higgins shared both his excitement about being back on the sidelines and his vision for building young men through the Wildcats football program.
“I want you to know that I’m honored to be the coach again,” Higgins told those gathered Monday evening. “I may get emotional, because I have mothers and fathers who tell me that they were here 20 years ago as students. And that is just, that’s why I’m here.”
Higgins was named the head coach earlier this month to replace Chris Ezell, who resigned after five years to take the assistant head coach position at the new Christian County High School.
Higgins won 69 games in eight seasons during his first stint from 1999 to 2006, a stretch that left a lasting impression on many in the Trigg County community. He said the encouragement to return to coaching also came from players he coached during that earlier tenure.
“I’ll be honest with you, I did it because I had players that played with me before, when Coach Ezell decided to step down, say, ‘Coach, we want you to come back,’” Higgins said.
While Higgins acknowledged he has goals for the football team on the field, he made it clear Monday that his biggest priority is what happens beyond the scoreboard.
“I want your kids to grow up and be young men,” he told the parents. “And I think football is a great way for them to grow up and be young men. I’ve got goals for the team, too. Grow these boys into good young men on and off the field.”
That emphasis is nothing new for Higgins. During his first run as Trigg County’s head coach, he established the Cats with Character program, which focused on teaching life lessons and leadership, as well as football fundamentals.
Now, Higgins is bringing back that same character-based approach with a new twist.
During Monday’s gathering, he introduced what he called the TC 38 Mentorship Program, a new initiative that will connect current Trigg County players with former Wildcats and other coaches.
“Tonight, we’re going to introduce you to the TC 38 Mentorship Program,” Higgins said, with the 38 alluding to Trigg County’s first season of football 88 years ago.
Higgins said former players from his earlier years at Trigg County, along with others, will mentor current Wildcats — creating a bridge between past and present generations of the program.
Former Wildcat John David Fourqurean will be among those leading the program.
“Raising boys to be young men is hard, and it seems like the village to raise them gets bigger and bigger,” he said. “I don’t have everything lined out yet, but there’s so much that we are working on this program. I hope to have one more meeting before we launch it with the parents and players. What we do know is that we’re going to try and do it right.”
Fourqurean said any former player who wants to be involved in the program should contact him, Donald Bush, Cy Dossett, or Donovan Washer.
Even with changes in the game and in high school athletics over the last two decades, Higgins said the fundamentals of winning football have not changed.
“There’s a lot that’s changed in 20 years,” Higgins said. “I’ll tell you what hasn’t changed. A team that blocks, tackles, runs, and takes care of the football is going to win the game. That’s the bottom line.”
Also at the meet and greet, Higgins announced more additions to his coaching staff. Former assistant coach Eric Bleidt and middle school coach Taylor McGee were announced when Higgins was introduced. Tom Horne, who coached the offensive line last year, is the lone holdover from last year’s staff. Horne was a former head coach in college at Iowa Wesleyan and Valparaiso.
Former Wildcat quarterback Cam Jordan was announced Monday night. A dual threat that saw him named Class 3A District 1 player of year, Jordan attended the Naval Academy for two years before transferring to play at Bethel University.
Higgins also announced that former Trigg head coach Dixie Jones, who has assisted the last three Wildcat head coaches, will help in some capacity. Jones suffered a stroke two years ago but has remained involved in the sport.
“I’m happy that he wants to do things with scouting and stuff like that and really help us out. I’m going to try to get him around as much as I can,” Higgins said.
Spring workouts for the team will begin on May 4 with July 15 the first official day of practice. Trigg’s preseason scrimmages will be August 7 vs. Muhlenberg County and Aug. 14 against Christian County.
