By ERIC VICCARO

sports@bowienewsonline.com

The Wichita Falls Independent School District board of trustees approved the hire of former Bowie High School football player Payton Betts last week.
Betts will assist with both the Coyotes’ freshman and junior varsity football teams, and he’s also been given the spring assignment of assistant boys’ track and field coach.
In the classroom, Betts will be a history teacher.
“It’s exciting,” said Betts, a 2012 BHS graduate. “It’s something I wanted. It’s a larger school with a lot of opportunities for me. I’m familiar with the area, and it’s close to my family.”
Betts reported his job search was extensive, putting in applications at a handful of school districts.
Bowie head football coach Dylan Stark was in his first year as Jackrabbit head coach when Betts was a senior.
“He loves the sport,” Stark said of Betts. “I think he will be a good coach, and he will be great with the kids. I have no doubt he’ll do a good job there, and I wish him the best of luck in the profession.”
Betts becomes the second former player under Stark to become a football coach. Weston Bond is currently on the staff at District 4-3A-I rival Breckenridge. Read more in the June 21 Bowie News.

Bowie graduate Payton Betts already sports his new company brand. Petts was named assistant football and track and field coach at Wichita Falls Old High last week. (Courtesy photo)