Football coach Shannon Watford leaving Hennessey for Purcell
Hennessey coach Shannon Watford hugs running back Ivan Moreno after the Eagles won their second straight Class 2A state championship in December. Watford is leaving Hennessey to become Purcell's coach. PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
Shannon Watford didn’t have a great day Wednesday, when he told his Hennessey players he was leaving to become Purcell’s football coach.
“It’s been the toughest decision of my career,” Watford said. “Not because I didn’t want to go to Purcell, but because of not wanting to leave Hennessey because of what we’ve been able to do here.
“I’ve had a lot of players hugging and crying in my office today.”
Watford, who led Hennessey to back-to-back Class 2A state championships in 2010 and 2011, will replace Mike Wilson, who retired after 12 seasons as the Dragons’ coach. Wilson was 98-43 during his time at Purcell.
While the decision was tough, Watford knows it was the right one. He is from Tuttle, still lives there and has made the 1 hour, 15-minute drive to Hennessey every day for the past five years.
“It was time to get close to home,” Watford said. “Purcell is a wonderful town in a great location. The program is one that has been successful and will continue to be successful.”
The job also will allow Watford to reunite with Don Schneberger, Purcell High School’s principal and an assistant coach at Tuttle when Watford played there.
Purcell has been to the playoffs the last 11 years, and is coming off a 9-2 season in 2011.
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