BREAKING: Kennett welcomes back Joel Wyatt as head football coach

KENNETT, Mo. - The Kennett School District has finished its search for a new football coach with the hiring of Joel Wyatt.

On Tuesday, Jan. 21, the Kennett School Board announced the employment of Wyatt as a High School Fitness teacher and High School Head Football coach.

Many Indian fans may recognize the name “Joel Wyatt”. Wyatt is returning to the Kennett football program after resigning in 2021 to coach at his hometown in Willow Springs.

Wyatt was the head football coach for the Indians for four years, from 2017-2021, before his resignation.

According to Wyatt, the reason for his departure from Kennett was due to personal family reasons. However, he is excited to come back and continue the success he started with the Indians.

“Those were a good four years,” Wyatt said. “And honestly, I would probably still be there today if I didn’t have to come back home. Three District titles, the most wins in school history and a final-four appearance. There were a lot of good times and a lot of good memories.”

During his four seasons at Kennett, Wyatt and his Indian football team had a 42-8 winning record. In his first year, he led Kennett to a 7-4 record, which was a boost from their 6-5 record the previous year, 2016.

The team continued to lean into success from there under Wyatt’s coaching. The next season, in 2018, Kennett was 11-2 and won their first District title since 1985. They also won their first outright Conference title since 1964 this year and made it all the way to the Class 3 State Quarterfinals.

His third season with the Indians would prove to be the best in history for Kennett’s football program. Wyatt coached the team to a 13-1 record, breaking the school record for most wins in a season. Along with this, they won another District Championship and a Class 4 final-four appearance.

They went undefeated in conference play this season and did so again the year after. In 2020, the team was 11-1.

After seeing his old position open back up at Kennett, Wyatt couldn’t help but think to himself, “Man, I want to go back.”

“I thought, ‘I’d liked to get back there and see if we can have another successful run,” Wyatt said. “The administration was always very supportive when I was there and a lot of those same people are still there. Maybe in different positions, but still with the school district. They were always very good to me.”

For Wyatt, his former success and relationship with Kennett’s administration drove his decision to come back even with the knowledge of a rebuilding phase ahead.

This past season, the Indians recorded a winless 0-10 season. However, he saw and accepted this challenge, as he had once done before.

“It’s going to be a lot of work,” Wyatt said. “I’m all about the challenge. It might be time-consuming but I’m excited. I feel rejuvenated and I am ready to get to work.”

Wyatt has a history of turning football programs around for success.

Prior to his four-year run with the Indians, Wyatt coached for six years at Malden High School.

It was his first head coaching position after working for 15 years as an offensive coordinator with Coach Steve Ary at Willow Springs and Mountain Grove High Schools.

With the Green Wave, he produced a 69-15 overall record including three District titles. This included a 14-1 2015 season which concluded with a Class 2 State runner-up placing.

“Those were some of the best times of my life as far as coaching goes,” Wyatt said. “Those people at Maldenw were unbelievable. It was magical in a way and I had so much fun with the kids and parents. I wish I could bottle those years up and take it with me.”

In all his years as a head coach, Wyatt has a 134-35 record along with six District titles and four final four appearances. This includes two recent District titles with his most recent coaching experience at West Plains High School.

Wyatt accepted the position at Kennett after resigning as West Plains’ head football coach. In his three seasons with the Zizzers, Wyatt was 23-13 and recently named the 2024 Southwest Missouri Coach of the Year.

As he finishes out his contract with West Plains, Wyatt’s new contract with Kennett is set for the 2025-2026 school year. He said his first goal is to implement confidence back into the Kennett fans and, more importantly, the players.

“When you’ve lost 14 straight games, there’s probably a lack of confidence going through those kids' minds,” Wyatt said. “We’ve got to instill some confidence in them and instill a good work ethic. I haven’t been there so I don’t know exactly what was going on these past few years, but I know for championship-level teams it all starts in the weight room. So that’s going to be a huge point for us when I get started later on. That’s where the money will be made, in the weight room.”