Apollo head football coach Phillip Hawkins has announced he will step down from his position effective Jan. 1, saying in a resignation letter that he will be moving back to Central Kentucky to be closer to his family.
In the letter to the Daviess County Public Schools Board of Education, Hawkins said he plans to continue his coaching career after relocating.
Hawkins told Owensboro Times that he will still teach at Apollo High School until he finds a new job. He currently teaches career options and health.
In part, Hakwins’ resignation letter reads, “The timing of my decision is designed to provide Apollo High School the best opportunity to successfully fill this position with the most qualified individual possible to lead the AHS football program. Certainly, the student-athletes are most deserving of this!”
Apollo athletic director Dan Crume echoed the coach’s statements about the timing of the decision and was thankful for Hawkins’ time with the Eagles.
“We appreciate the time that coach Hawkins has given our program and our student-athletes,” Crume told Owensboro Times. “We wish him well with his future opportunities.”
Crume said the job will be posted when school is back in session after the winter break.
In two seasons with the Eagles, Hawkins guided the football team to a 9-13 record — winning the first four games under his tenure.
The most notable victory of the 2018 season was a 17-10 win over Evansville Mater Dei in the Border Bowl, while the highlight of the 2019 campaign was a 56-35 victory over Owensboro Catholic.
Hawkins was also a strong advocate for his players on the recruiting front. After his first year at Apollo, six players — Daniel (DC) Boone, Gage Hayden, Mariano McKenzie, Quentin Miller, Sam Parm and Chris Schwartz — signed to continue their football careers at the collegiate level.
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