Longtime Holt High Basketball Coach Leaving For New Job In County School System

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After a decade leading the program, Steve Watkins told Patch he is gearing up to begin a new chapter as an assistant principal at Brookwood High School.

The decision brings to a close a successful 10-year tenure that saw the Ironmen become a consistent postseason contender while helping numerous student-athletes continue their basketball careers at the collegiate level.

"It was an honor to coach at Holt," Watkins told Patch. "It was a tremendous experience and I'm grateful to the administration, coaches and, most importantly, the players for my time at Holt High."

During his time at Holt, Watkins guided the program to three area championships, including back-t0-back Class 4A Area 7 championships in 2017 and 2018.

Watkins also led the Ironmen to seven playoff appearances, four Sweet 16 berths and two Elite Eight appearances in 2017 and 2021.

Eight of his players went on to compete at the collegiate level.

His accomplishments also earned him statewide recognition when he was named the Alabama Sports Writers Association's 2017-18 Class 4A Coach of the Year.

Watkins' coaching career began in 2006 as an assistant coach at Hillcrest High School under longtime coach Scott Suttles.

During his six seasons with the Patriots, Hillcrest captured state championships in 2008 and 2011.

He later spent five years as head coach at Duncanville Middle School, where he led the program to the school's first City-County Championship in any sport.

Watkins then accepted the head coaching job at Holt in 2016.

While moving on from Holt High School will be bittersweet for Watkins, he expressed his excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of the administrative team at Brookwood.

"I have been so fortunate to have such great examples in my time as a teacher by the diverse administrative teams I have worked with over the years," he told Patch. "For me, the decision to become an administrator is about wanting to grow and advance in my educational career. I really feel called to make an impact on a bigger scale. Before it was the classroom and the basketball court. Now I'm excited to have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the entire school."

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