LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW)- Phillip Hawkins is the new Head Football Coach at Henry Clay High School. The former Bryan Station head coach moves across town to Fontaine Road after five successful seasons on the Northside. Former Henry Clay head coach Demetrius Gay stepped down after the 2024 season. A news conference to announce Hawkins will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Friday at Henry Clay. The Hire “The challenge of Henry Clay football is really what attracted me to the job,” said Hawkins, who has 49 Class 6A wins to his name. With Hawkins at the helm, the Blue Devils have their eighth Head Football Coach in 120 years. “That says something about the Henry Clay community. Clearly coaches have spent long term seasons there and that’s exciting,” said Hawkins. Hawkins knows that his move is sending shockwaves across Lexington and wants Station Nation to know that the Northside is the best place he’s ever worked. “They made my time there amazing. I’ll never be able to thank them enough for what they’ve done for me. They’ve blossomed my career,” said Hawkins. “I think people realize that this is something I want to do and it has nothing to do with the school building that I was in.” Hawkins’ History “I think I’m really good at rebuilding programs,” said Hawkins, who took the Green and Gold from five wins in two years to the 6A State Title game in 2023. Bryan Station won 10 games for three seasons in a row including Hawkins’ first season in charge. In 2023, the Defenders won 11 games on their way to Kroger Field. Hawkins is known for scheduling hard opponents to mold his teams too. The Defenders played Trinity in week one of the 2024 season after the Shamrocks beat them in the finals to end the 2023 season. Blue Devils on the Rise? Hawkins says that rebuilding teams rejuvenates and makes him want to coach longer. He wants the turnaround with Henry Clay to be just like his days with the Defenders. “I want to win ten games. I want to end up in a state championship game,” said Hawkins “It’s very tough to do.” He takes over a team that’s gotten more than accustomed to losing. Under Gay, Henry Clay won seven games in five seasons including a winless 2023 slate. The Blue Devils’ win versus Paul Laurence Dunbar on October 18 was their first in two years. For Hawkins to make winning a habit he’ll need to determine what his new team’s identity is. “It’ll be based off of what the make up of the team allows. It’s hard to say we’re going to do it just like Bryan Station because I don’t know the identity of that program is going to be. Hopefully I figure it out by week one of next year,” said Hawkins. Categories: ENDZONE 2024, Featured, More Sports, Sports Tags: Bryan Station, endzone, hawkins, Henry Clay, high school football, KHSAA, Lexington