Blanco ISD is expected to announce the hiring of Liberty Hill head coach Kent Walker as the next athletic director and head football coach at Blanco High School, pending board approval on Friday.

Walker will replace Jamie Dixon, who resigned after three seasons to take the same position at Edna.

Walker assumed the head coaching role at Liberty Hill under tragic circumstances, following the passing of his brother Jeff Walker in Week 9 of the 2020 season. He posted a 49–14 record in four full seasons at the helm, and went 4–1 in 2020 as interim head coach, leading the Panthers to the 5A Division II state semifinals.

While at Liberty Hill, Walker kept the Panthers’ vaunted Slot-T offense intact, producing record-setting numbers on the ground.

The peak of Walker’s tenure came in 2021 when Liberty Hill advanced to the 5A Division II state championship game, falling to South Oak Cliff. In both 2022 and 2023, his teams reached the state semifinals before falling to Port Neches-Groves. Walker also spent the 2016 season as athletic director and head coach at Rogers.

The big question for Blanco heading into 2025 is whether it will adopt the Slot-T offense that has become synonymous with Liberty Hill football over the past two decades. It’s not a scheme that can be perfected overnight, making the transition particularly intriguing given the late timing of the hire.

While Liberty Hill may be at a crossroads, the district’s rapid growth has already led to the opening of a second high school, Legacy Ranch High School, which began classes this past fall. That development is expected to impact Liberty Hill at the varsity level this season, and the timing of Walker’s departure could prompt an internal hire from the current staff.