Copperas Cove athletic program seeks fourth new athletic director, head coach in five years

By TJ MAXWELL
Cove Leader-Press

The Copperas Cove Bulldawgs athletic program is looking to fill its top spot for the fourth time in five years after head coach and athletic director, Jason Hammett, stepped down from that role on Tuesday after nearly two years at the helm.
The Copperas Cove Independent School District issued a statement just prior to noon on Tuesday that Hammett resigned from his position “to seek new opportunities.”
Hammett spent two years as the Bulldawgs’ assistant head coach under Jack Alvarez prior to accepting the head coach/AD position in Copperas Cove in March 2020. Hammett helped lead the Bulldawgs to the 2018 Class 6A Bi-District round in his first season. He was an integral part of the 2019 athletic facility upgrades to better support student achievement and more than double the number of students served simultaneously.
Hammett compiled a 2-18 overall record and 1-13 district record in his COVID-plagued two seasons. Before that he was the offensive line and assistant head coach under Jack Alvarez who had a 10-11 overall record and 7-7 record in District 12-6A. 
Coach Hammett brings more than 20 years coaching experience to the position, but this is his first stint as athletic director and head coach.
Hammett has also coached boys’ and girls’ soccer, track and powerlifting where he coached his squad to a state championship.
This was Hammett’s first stint as athletic director and head coach in his 20-plus year coaching career. Prior to his time in Copperas Cove and Ennis where he also was an assistant to Alvarez, he also had stints in Burleson, Carrolton and Robinson.
“We appreciate Coach Hammett for what he has done for our students, our athletic program, and the district,” said CCISD Superintendent Joe Burns. “We wish him much success in his new endeavors.”
The Bulldawgs saw much success under head coach Jack Welch with multiple playoff appearances and Class 4A state championship appearances with Heisman winner and Texas Sprts Hall of Fame nominee, Robert Griffin III, leading the pack in his nearly two dozen years as the head man in Copperas Cove.
Welch is currently the special teams’ coordinator/running backs coach for the Texas A&M Commerce Lions where he coaches former Bulldawgs in redshirt senior Antonio Leali’ie’e and freshman McKenzie Agnello.
The Bulldawgs have had one winning season in the last seven seasons in Alvarez’s first year with a 7-4, 5-3 record.  Before that, they were 7-4, 5-1 in the 2014-15 season under Welch after a long stretch of winning seasons.
Copperas Cove reached the postseason every year except 2003 until failing to qualify in 2016, snapping a streak lasting 12 seasons.
Alvarez took his new team Cuero to the Class 4A Div. II championship this year where they lost against China Spring in his second year running the program.
The district has begun taking applications for its next head football coach/athletic director.
By law, CCISD must post the position for a minimum of 10 days and will conduct interviews upon receiving a qualified pool of applicants.
Lynette Sowell contributed to this article.