Reports: Rafe Watkins next head coach at Muskogee

Muskogee High School may have found their next head football coach. Multiple sources are reporting Guthrie’s Rafe Watkins could soon be offered the Class 6A position.

As of late Thursday evening, Watkins is not commenting if he has been offered or has accepted the Rougher’s position.

Watkins has guided the BlueJays to a 133-30 record and four state championships since 2001.

A search committee narrowed down the list of 50 applicants down to seven for the Muskogee position. From there, seven candidates were selected and were interviewed this week.

The Muskogee Phoenix confirmed, along with Watkins, that McAlester’s Bryan Pratt and Dale Condict of Wagoner were among the three finalists.

Both Pratt and Condict were notified on Thursday that they were finalists, but withdrew during the conversations.

Much like in the Broken Arrow coaching search, Watkins does not wish to comment on the situation until school officials make an announcement, but does admit he  spoke with Muskogee officials on Thursday.

“We are now in conversations to bring closure to this process,” Superintendent Mike Garde told the Phoenix. “Unfortunately, we cannot release anyone’s name to the media at this time, but we will let you know as soon as we close a deal.”

Watkins was just recently a finalists for the Broken Arrow position before the school offered the position to David Alexander last week.

The Roughers have struggled for wins over the last several seasons by just winning 16 of their last 52 games, including a 3-7 record in 2013. However, beginning next season, Muskogee will play in 6A’s new format in Division II. Now, the Roughers will not have to compete against the likes of Jenks, Tulsa Union and Broken Arrow for a state championship.

The Muskogee coaching position opened up when Josh Blankenship announced he was headed to Tulsa University to coach under his father.