Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By: Casey Roberts

Contributing writer

As Lincoln County High School gears up for the 2024 football season, the Patriots are excited to welcome Levi Rogers as their new head coach. Rogers, a Lincoln County native and former player, brings a wealth of experience and a deep connection to the community, making his return to Lincoln County a homecoming of sorts.

Levi Rogers’ football journey began right here in Lincoln County. “Born and raised here, I played for Larry French for four years and graduated in 2008,” Rogers recalled. “I started coaching here as an assistant and have now come back as head coach.” 

His coaching path has seen him gain valuable experience at various programs, including Casey County, Southwestern, and Garrard County. “I’ve put my time in, bounced around, and coached with a lot of great guys. Finally, I got the opportunity to come back here this year, and it’s awesome.”

Preseason Preparations

Rogers and his staff have been hard at work preparing for the upcoming season. “We’ve been focusing on putting everything together since it’s a new offense, new scheme, and new coaching staff,” Rogers explained. “It started back in February with weight training, getting everyone on the same page and bought in. The players seem to be believing in it and enjoying themselves, which is exciting.”

Coaching Philosophy

Rogers’s coaching philosophy is rooted in fundamental football principles. “I have an old-school mindset focused on blocking and tackling,” he said. “The teams that block and tackle the best are usually the ones that win. Whether it’s power football or spread football, it all comes down to doing the fundamentals well.”

Challenges and Solutions

One of the biggest challenges Rogers anticipates this season is dealing with adversity. “We don’t have a lot of returning experience, so facing in-game adversity at the varsity level is something new for many of our guys,” he noted. “We need to see which players can handle pressure and make the right decisions when it matters most.”

Leaders

Rogers is optimistic about his team’s potential leaders. “We have a decent senior class and a large junior class,” he said. “Grady Foster and Matthew Sneed, two of our linemen, have taken on leadership roles. Cash Smith, a skill player, has also stepped up, along with Bob Floyd and Johnny Atkins. These guys put in the work consistently and set a great example for their teammates.”

Offensive and Defensive Approach

On the offensive side, Rogers plans to base everything out of the spread, with some two-back formations. “We want to figure out what we’re good at and which players we can rely on,” he said. “Defensively, we’ll be multiple and aggressive, throwing different fronts and coverages at our opponents. The key is not to overload the players with information in this first year.”

Team Chemistry

Rogers is pleased with the team’s chemistry. “The players communicate well and hang out both on and off the field,” he said. “We’ve also seen an increase in numbers recently, which shows that word is spreading about the positive changes we’re making.”

The Importance of the Death Valley Bowl

As the season opener against Garrard County approaches, Rogers emphasizes the significance of starting strong. “Getting off to a good start is extremely important for momentum and confidence,” he said. “The Death Valley Bowl is always packed, and it’s a great atmosphere. We’re excited and ready to go.”

Community Support

Rogers acknowledges the vital role of community support in the team’s success. “Lincoln County always supports its programs, win or lose,” he said. “We appreciate the community’s involvement and aim to bring back the days when it was tough to get into the games because they were so packed.”

Assistant Coaches

Rogers is proud of his coaching staff, many of whom have deep ties to Lincoln County football. “Almost all of our coaches played here or coached here at some point,” he said. “Chase Marcum am is our defensive coordinator and helps with the offensive line. Bryson Yaden assists with skill positions and the secondary. Doug McQueen handles linebackers and JV offensive line. Daniel Foster heads up the offensive line, and Dean Wilks has been coaching here for over 20 years. It’s a staff full of Lincoln County guys, and we have great continuity.”