Big news out of Liberty Hill. Kent Walker is expected to be named the next head football coach and athletic director at Blanco High School, pending board approval on Friday. The news was first reported by Matt Stepp of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football.
Walker will take over for Jamie Dixon, who led the Panthers for three seasons before retiring to take the same position at Edna. For Walker, it’s a new chapter after a memorable run at Liberty Hill.
He first took over the Liberty Hill program under incredibly difficult circumstances in 2020, following the sudden passing of his brother, head coach Jeff Walker, during the season. Kent stepped in as interim head coach and guided the team to the state semifinals. Over the next four full seasons, he led the Panthers to a 49–14 record, three deep playoff runs, and a trip to the 5A Division II state championship game in 2021.
His program’s consistency stood out year after year, with Liberty Hill becoming a regular fixture in the December playoff picture. In both 2022 and 2023, the Panthers advanced to the state semifinals before being knocked out by Port Neches-Groves.
Walker also served as head coach and athletic director at Rogers in 2016, so he’s no stranger to leading both sides of a program. At Blanco, he’s stepping into a community that loves its football and will be eager to keep the momentum going under new leadership.
Meanwhile, Liberty Hill is facing some changes of its own. The district recently opened Legacy Ranch High School, a move that’s expected to impact varsity depth and shake up the landscape moving forward.
With Friday’s announcement looming, one thing’s clear: Blanco is getting a seasoned coach with a proven track record and plenty of big-game experience.
