Kennett names Andrew Webster head football coach

Photo by Jeff Dorris, staff
Andrew Webster (pictured) is the new the head football coach at Kennett.

It didn’t take long for Kenettt High School to find its next varsity football coach.

Shortly after accepting the resignation of head football coach Joel Wyatt Tuesday night the Kennett Board of Education approved the hiring of Andrew Webster as its new head football coach for the 2021-22 school year.

“Everything happened quickly,” Webster said. “But when the job opened up I knew it was a perfect fit for me and I’m looking forward to the opportunity.”

Webster takes over for Wyatt who compiled a 42-8 record while coaching at Kennett the last four seasons. Wyatt is departing to serve as the head football coach at his alma mater Willow Springs High School.

“Coach Wyatt got a chance to return home and I wish him nothing but the best,” Webster said.

Webster, who is 2003 graduate of nearby Dexter High School, is no stranger to Kennett Athletics. Webster has served as head wrestling coach and head track and field coach in recent years. He said he plans to remain in those roles for the upcoming school year.

Webster has also been served as an assistant coach for the varsity football squad since arriving at Kennett in 2016.

“In 2016 I helped coach Penn with offense,” Webster said. “From 2017 on I’ve served as defensive coordinator for the football team.”

Webster, who graduated from Missouri Western State University in Saint Joseph in 2008, was a head football coach at Tarkio High School for three seasons from 2008-2010 and North Nodaway High School for five seasons from 2011-2015 before arriving at Kennett.

Webster takes over a program that has won three straight district titles.

Kennett graduated just seven players off of its most recent squad that finished 11-1 and advanced to the Class 4 state quarterfinals.

“We have a very good group of boys coming back to help keep this thing rolling,” Webster said. “It’s incredibly exciting and I’m blessed to have them. They are great boys and I’m looking forward to working with them.”

Webster said weightlifting, installing a new offense, and finding an identity on special teams are the primary goals for the football program this summer.

“We want to keep lifting weights and focus on conditioning,” Webster said. “We have Team Wednesday’s where we lift every Wednesday. We’ve got to get in shape. We’ve also got to get our offense installed because there are going to be some changes on how we do some things. We also have to figure out who is going to fill some spots in special teams.”

Kennett opens its season Aug. 27 when it hosts nearby Malden.

Webster said he hopes attendance increases at home game this fall.

“I’d like to see more community involvement at the games,” he said. “I want everyone in the community to know they are welcomed and we want them to come out. When we are on the field and our fans are really loud we can feel it. We want people to continue to come out and support our kids.”