Adkins brings experience as new Abbeville Wildcats football coach

With a young, incomplete coaching staff, Abbeville High Principal Ivy Landry knew what he needed in a new head football coach...experience.
Landry has found a man with plenty of it.
Landry announced Friday morning that Gary Adkins will be the new head coach of the Abbeville Wildcats, replacing Chris Towery, who left on July 6 after two seasons.
Adkins, who spent several years in the Baton Rouge area, brings with him more than 33 years of coaching, 25 of those as a head coach, in which time he compiled 141 victories.
“He’s coached a lot of places and has a lot of head coaching experience,” Landry said.
Landry and a committee interviewed six candidates on Thursday.
“Nobody else who interviewed had that head coaching experience,” Landry said. “Experience was the difference maker. Because we have such a young coaching staff, and our coaching staff is not complete, we felt we needed someone who had that experience who could help coach our young coaches.”
Adkins, who has worked most recently as head coach at Sacred Heart-Ville Platte, and prior to that at Oak Grove, is ready for the opportunity.
“I’m really excited about being here and can’t wait to get started,” Adkins said. “I think we’re going to meet with parents and coaches. Obviously I am going to meet with the boys and we are going to get a game plan together.
“There’s a lot getting ready to go down here.”
While he has the know how to get started, the middle of July is not the ideal time do so.
“Yeah, timing is an issue,” Adkins said. “The way I look at it, I’m certainly not going to use it as a crutch. It is what it is. We have to get it done and we will get it done. If we had a little more time it might be good.
“We don’t have that time, but we are not going to worry about it. We are just going to make it happen.”
Victories haven’t happened much for the Wildcats in recent seasons. Adkins, who played at Haynsville High under the legendary Alton “Red” Franklin, said his mission to change that starts before the Wildcats ever hit the field.
“What is important right now is that we start finding some little wins,” Adkins said. “Let’s get dressed properly and get on the bus properly. Let’s handle ourselves in the city and in the classroom properly.
“Let’s get some wins there.”
As for on the field, a win in the Wildcats’ opener would set a good tone.
“Obviously we want to beat Kaplan week one,” Adkins said of Abbeville’s rival. “That’s a goal.”
Adkins is familiar with Kaplan, having played the Pirates during his stint as head coach at St. Martinville in 2011 and ‘12. Adkins will see some other familiar faces from that time, as Abbeville enters District 5-4A this season, one that includes Breaux Bridge, Cecilia, Westage and Adkins’ old school, St. Martinville.
“We know all those guys,” Adkins said. “It’s going to be pretty cool to match up with all of them.”
How those matchups play out will go a long way in determining if the Wildcats return to the postseason for the first time since ‘10. As far as Adkins is concerned, he is happy to have the chance to try.
“We are going to wake those old Wildcats up a little bit,” Adkins said with a big smile. I’m excited about it. I think it’s just a great opportunity. We have a game plan. It’s not going to be overnight, but hopefully it’s sooner than most think.”
No matter what, the players will be Adkins’ main focus from day one.
“I am going to take great care of these boys,” Adkins said. “I want to get it back to where, when these boys put that jersey on, it’s a pride thing.”

A meet and greet with new Abbeville High head coach Gary Adkins is scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m. in the AHS auditorium.