With tears streaming down his cheeks, an emotional Dustin Lopez was introduced as the first head football coach at the new Christian County High School Tuesday morning at the Board of Education Central Office.
Lopez, who was the head coach at Hopkinsville High School the last two seasons, said combining the Hoptown and Christian County programs will be a challenge, but it’s one he is ready to begin.
Lopez has transformed the Hopkinsville football program, increasing the numbers from 34 several years ago to more than 75 in 2025. In two seasons as Hoptown’s head coach, Lopez led the Tigers to a 10-12 record, but in 2025 the Tigers went 7-5 and won a home playoff game for the first time since 2021.
New Christian County High School Principal Ken Carver said Lopez impressed him by more than wins and losses.
Lopez said for the last two seasons, he has been focused on his players and improving the Hopkinsville High School program. He admitted he wanted the coaching job at the new high school, but had conveyed to administrators he wanted what was best for the student athletes.
While the Hopkinsville High School program was enjoying success, the Christian County High School football program has struggled in the past five years. The Colonels have had six coaches in the last six seasons and have an 8-52 record during that span.
Lopez said the first year is going to be difficult navigating practice and building relationships.
Lopez said he plans to field a freshman and sophomore team in the fall and is ready to get to work.
His next step will be building a coaching staff.
Lopez played high school football at Todd County Central before transferring to Hopkinsville High School where he graduated in 2003.
He earned a football scholarship to Minnesota West Junior College before transferring to the University of Memphis, where he played defensive back for two seasons.
After college, Lopez played three seasons in the Arena Football League for Chicago and St. Louis.
After his playing career ended, Lopez was on Dixie Jones’ staff at Hopkinsville from 2008-2010. He joined Craig Clayton’s staff at Franklin, Tenn., in 2011 and went with Clayton to Hillsboro, Tenn., as the defensive coordinator from 2012-16. In 2015, Lopez was named the Metro-Nashville Assistant Coach of the Year by the Tennessee Tribune.
He returned to Hopkinsville as the defensive coordinator with Clayton and also served in the position for Marc Adam Clark. Lopez succeeded Clark as the Tigers’ head coach in 2024.
Photos by Joe Wilson