One of Kentucky’s winningest coaches is headed to one of the state’s top programs

St. Xavier High School has found its new football coach.

Kevin Wallace, the head coach at Bowling Green High School since 1996, was named to the same position at St. X on Monday. Jason Frakes of the Louisville Courier-Journal first reported the hire.

“I am excited to become a part of the St. X family," Wallace said in a news release shared on the school’s website. “Very few schools have reached the standard of excellence that St. X produces on a yearly basis. To be entrusted to lead the St. X football program is a great responsibility. I look forward to earning the respect of our players, coaches, teachers, administrators, and supporters as I become a part of the best academic and athletic tradition in Kentucky.”

Bowling Green won the Class 5A state championship in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016. Wallace, who was the head coach at Warren East from 1984-1993, took over at Bowling Green in 1996 after serving as an assistant with the Purples for two seasons. He is 299-102 as a head coach, one win away from becoming the 11th coach in KHSAA history to reach 300 wins. He also is 11th all-time in wins and sixth among active head coaches.

Wallace succeeds Will Wolford, who resigned in December and went 44-22 in five seasons with the Tigers. St. X, which is tied with Mayfield for the fourth-most titles (12) in state history, lost to Trinity in the 2017 Class 6A finals. That was the Tigers’ first appearance in a championship game since 2009, when they defeated Trinity, 34-10, for their most recent championship.

This story was originally published February 5, 2018 at 3:03 PM with the headline "One of Kentucky’s winningest coaches is headed to one of the state’s top programs."