Keller coach Kevin Atkinson accepts new challenge at Denton High
By: By Greg Bogomol
DENTON -- After 10 years in Keller, football coach Kevin Atkinson decided it was time for a new challenge.
On Tuesday night in a special board meeting, Atkinson was appointed football coach and athletic coordinator at Denton High School to help turn around that struggling program.
"I'm excited to be going back to DISD, I just love that community and they have such great athletic support," Atkinson said. "When I went to Ryan in 2000, we had a vision and I have that same type of vision for Denton High."
Before taking over at Keller, Atkinson was the offensive coordinator at Denton Ryan, where he helped revive a program that went 1-9 the year before. Ryan went 28-2 the next two years. During his tenure, the Raiders advanced to the Class 4A state championship game in 2000 and won the state title in 2001.
"I am so excited about having Coach Atkinson return to the Denton ISD," athletic director Ken Purcell said. "I tried to talk him out of leaving in 2002 after he served as the offensive coordinator on Ryan's 2001 state championship team [that went 15-0]. I am just glad that Coach Atkinson wants to come back. He is so great for kids."
During his time in Keller, Atkinson has experienced some of the same problems Denton High has experienced, with the opening of two new schools that have had their share of success. As coach of the Indians, he posted a 50-55 record with four trips to the playoffs. The most recent was in 2009 when Keller went 6-5. The past two years the Indians have gone 3-7 and 2-8.
Both Ryan and Denton Guyer high schools have had their share of success, including playing for the 2010 state titles, while Denton has gone 12-59 during the past seven seasons.