Newport High School announces former player as head football coach

Newport High School has named its next head football coach, appointing former Wildcat Paul Wiggins Jr. to the position.The school announced the move on Wednesday, praising the Newport High School graduate's wealth of football experience and success at previous stops. That includes Bishop Brossart High School, where he led the Mustangs to three district championships during his decade-long tenure."It is very exciting to be coming home," coach Wiggins said. "God's plan for everyone is always different. I was going to help out former head coach Ryan Hahn this season, so now to be able to serve as head coach is great."Wiggins is a 1986 graduate of Newport High School, where he played defensive end and outside linebacker for the Wildcats.Wiggins' arrival as head coach at Newport coincides with the opening of the newly revamped Newport Stadium, which has been shut down for the last two years due to structural repairs and improvements."We are looking at five home games and two scrimmages in the stadium," coach Wiggins said. "I know the players, the fans, the school district and the community are anxious to get back to the stadium. We are now about getting to the work of carrying our success to the new stadium and to beyond just the home games."Newport, a member of Kentucky's Class 1A division, finished the 2023 season at 8-4, losing to Ludlow in the second round of the playoffs.