WS Chronicle

In above photo:  Antwon Stevenson, the new head coach at Glenn High School, had been an assistant coach with the Bobcats for the past 13 seasons. (Photo by Tevin Stinson)

By Tevin Stinson

For The Chronicle

Antwon Stevenson knew that one day he would get his shot at being a head coach.

Earlier this year, Stevenson got that chance when he was named head coach at Glenn High School.

Stevenson, a native of High Point, had been an assistant coach with the Bobcats for the past 13 seasons.

He will replace Aldine Payne, who resigned last year after five seasons because of health issues.

Although Stevenson always had ambitions of being a head coach, he said he was willing to wait even longer because he knew God already had a plan in place for him.

“If I had to wait 15 years, I would have waited because me being the head coach at Robert B. Glenn High School was already ordained 13 years ago,” Stevenson said.

It was former head coach Dick Cline that brought Stevenson on as an assistant in 2002.

Under Cline, the Bobcats were 79-31 and were in the state playoffs eight times before his retirement in 2010.

Stevenson said Cline was a man of detail that taught him a lot about coaching on the high school level.

“Coach Cline was man who knew how to get the most out of his players,” Stevenson said. “During his tenure, we were never the biggest or the fastest but you had to beat us.”

Coach Stevenson said that Cline also taught him how important it is to surround yourself with a good coaching staff, and that is exactly what he plans to do as head coach.

A few months after taking over as head coach Stevenson named Kevin Wallace offensive coordinator.

Last season, Wallace was the offensive coordinator at Greensboro College but is eager to get to work with Stevenson and the Bobcats.

He said he accepted the position partly because of the relationship Stevenson has with his players.

“He has a connection with the players. That was big for me,” Wallace said. “I know he’s going to do great as head coach. He’s already showing that in the early practices and workouts.”

With 22 seniors returning from a team that posted a 3-8 record last season, Stevenson and the Bobcats hope to have a better record at the end of the 2015 season.

Seniors Nick Wagner and Darius “DJ” Miller, who have been with the program since they were freshman, are firm believers that Coach Stevenson has all the tools to get the Bobcats back to those winning ways.

“Coach really knows a lot about football,” said Miller. “Most of all I want a ring. I defiantly see us going deep in the playoffs this year.”

Wagner, who plays linebacker, said he believes that Coach Stevenson should have already had a head coaching job.

“In some ways, I do feel like he should have already had a head coaching job,” said Wagner. “He brings a lot to the table and expects a lot out of us on and off the field.”

Stevenson believes before they can be successful on the field they must first be good citizens off the field, and that is what he wants his players to remember about him when his coaching days are over.

“When I’m done coaching, I want my players to be able to say they played for a God- fearing man who always wanted his players to do right, and who gave his all to the program and to each individual,” Stevenson said. “I would give them the shirt off my back.”

The Bobcats will open their 2015 campaign Friday, Aug. 21, when they face off against North Forsyth.