New Sulphur offensive coordinator Channing Hickman always knew about Sulphur’s reputation.
He knew about the tough, hard-nosed approach and always admired it.
And now, he gets to be a part of it.
Hickman was hired earlier this spring to be a football and baseball assistant, specifically taking over play-calling duties from Sulphur head coach Corey Cole in football.
Hickman, who worked with Cole’s brother and former Sulphur graduate, Curt Cole, jumped at the opportunity when he got the chance.
“Being from the area, I have always known of Sulphur’s reputation as a football town with unbelievably hard-working kids. The opportunity to run an offense and coach kids with that mentality in a community that loves football is very exciting,” he said.
Hickman graduated from Whitesboro, TX in 2016 and from Hardin-Simmons University in 2020.
He then coached at Whitesboro for three years, heading up the wide receivers for two and the offensive line for another.
Hickman most recently spent one year at Temple, TX last sea-son, coaching wide receivers.
He will take his first crack at running the offense this season and has already impressed many with his philosophy and offensive scheme.
“I’m really looking forward to being able to put a little twist on an already successful unit,” he said.
And while things may look a little different, Hickman assures he isn’t straying from the principles that have made Sulphur successful for a long time.
“We are going to look a little different than previous Sulphur Bulldog offenses. But make no mistake about it, we are still going to play the hard-nosed, physical football we are known for playing,” he said.
As a new OC, Hickman prides himself on building special relationships with players and “I take pride in being a ‘players’ coach,’ I have told them since day one that I believe there is a time for fun and a time for work,” he said. “I try to keep things light with our guys as much as I can, but they know when we step foot between the white lines, in the meeting room, or in the weight room, I’m all business.”
Hickman believes laying the foundation of his relationships and coaching style has gotten things off to the right start during his early tenure.
“I think that approach has helped me establish that we’re going to have a lot of fun, but I am also going to hold them to an incredibly high standard,” he said.
Hickman knows the success of the program and where last year’s team ended up, so the competitive fire is there to win a state title.
But the young coach also knows that he is a mentor to the youth in Sulphur and is ultimately focused on their future and making them as successful as possible on and off the field.
“I’m a competitive guy, so I would be lying if I didn’t say one of my goals is to put a ring on our kids’ fingers. But I want to teach our players how to be the best man they can be in the process,” he said. “Winning championships is fun and that’s what we’re going to strive to do here in Sulphur, but I’m more concerned with our guys leaving our program as better men than when they came in.”
Hickman will keep that same competitive fire with him as the winter turns to spring, as he will help a revived baseball program that has won 20+ games in each of the last two seasons.
“Again I’m a competitive guy, so I’m excited to be able to compete not only during football season but also in the spring during baseball season,” he said. “Especially since I have a background in baseball as well and was blessed to be able to play four years in college.”
Hickman and his wife, Sydney, who will be a teacher and athletic trainer at Sulphur, have felt welcomed already, sharing that the community has invited them with open arms.
“My wife and I came here because of the reputation of the kids being hard-working, and the community not only loving the Bulldogs, but the town as a whole,” he said. “Both of those reasons have been validated in the short time we have been here.”
He spoke about how impacted he and his wife were at the strength of the community in not only supporting athletics and kids, but the unity after the devastating tornado.
“Since day one, we have seen our kids work hard at practice, games, the weight room and classroom. We were also able to see the community get behind not just our kids at baseball games, softball games and track meets this spring, but also behind each other after the storm hit back in April.”
“This community is truly a family, and is just what we were looking for to eventually raise a family of our own.”
