Coach Hodge Welcomed to McKenzie

McKENZIE (April 6) — Keith Hodge, the new head football coach at McKenzie High School, was welcomed to McKenzie on Saturday, April 6 during an informal meet and greet at Hometown Hangout.

Hodge was welcomed by members of the McKenzie Special School District Board of Education and many in the community during the come-and-go event.

Coach Hodge is married to Ashley Hodge, and they have two children- Elle and Maddox. Coach Hodge is a Business teacher and looks forward to the opportunity to work with MHS students in the classroom. He has an Ed.S. from the University of the Cumberlands, a Master’s degree from Tennessee Tech, and completed his undergraduate work at UT Martin.

The family plans to continue to reside in Paris. The children attended Lakewood School north of Paris.

Hodge was the 2023 Dresden football coach that blemished the Rebels’ undefeated regular season. Both Dresden and McKenzie teams met in the semi-final with the Rebels advancing to the state championship game.

The coach said he is eager to develop relationships in the community and meet the athletes and work with the coaches.

Coach Hodge was the head coach at Dresden High School (2021-2023, 2009-2013) and Murray High School (2014-2021). Coach Hodge has had several other assistant coaching stints during his 19-year career.

Coach Hodge has seen extraordinary success during his head coaching tenure. While at Dresden, the Lions were the State Runner-Up in 2011, had State Semi-Finals appearances in 2012, 2014, 2020, and 2023, and made a 2018 quarterfinals appearance. Coach Hodge and the Lions were also region champs in 2012, 2014, 2020 and 2023. This past season, Coach Hodge led the Lions to only the second undefeated regular season in the school’s history.

Coach Hodge has received several individual coaching awards during his time as a head coach. Northwest Tennessee Coach of the Year in 2012, Region Coach of the Year in 2012, and Region Coach of the Year again in 2023 are part of his impressive resume.

McKenzie SSD’s Director of Schools, Dr. Justin Barden, shared “I am excited to welcome Coach Hodge to the McKenzie Rebels family! Coach Hodge has an excellent resume and has proven himself as a coach who knows how to grow young men into exceptional members of the community and at the same time win ballgames and create an excitement for the game. McKenzie SSD is excited for the future of Rebels Football with Coach Hodge at the helm.”

Coach Comer, head coach at McKenzie for 24 years with four state championship appearances and one championship, accepted the head coaching position at Milan High School. He and son, Bryant, an assistant coach at McKenzie, are both leaving the McKenzie program to coach at Milan. Other football coaches at McKenzie had considered joining Comer at Milan but chose instead to remain in McKenzie.