Ex-Huskie new head coach of SEOSU football program

Former Pawhuska Huskie Bo Atterberry recently was named as the new head football coach at his college alma mater, Southeastern Oklahoma State University at Durant.

Atterberry had been serving as defensive coordinator for the Savage Storm. He returned to SEOSU a year ago after resigning the head coaching position at Texas A&M-Kingsville. Atterberry is the 19th head coach in the 100-year history of the school, but he will be just the eighth to lead the program since 1925.

After graduating from Pawhuska High School in 1983, Atterberry played four seasons at Southeastern and then coached there for several years. He also coached four seasons at Bartlesville High School. Atterberry had been the Savage Storm defensive coordinator previously, from 2004-06, before taking the head job at Texas A&M-Kingsville.

In six seasons as head coach of the Javelinas, Atterberry compiled a 41-28 record and earned Regional Coach of the Year honors for 2010. In 2009, he was a finalist National Coach of the Year. Atterberry resigned at Kingsville last December and re-joined the Savage Storm coaching staff a month later.

Southeastern Oklahoma and Texas A&M-Kingsville are both NCAA Division II affiliates. SEOSU is a member of the Great American Conference. TAMUK belongs to the Lone Star Conference.

Atterberry is a son of longtime Huskies’ coach and athletic director Duke Atterberry. As a PHS senior, Atterberry was chosen to receive the Ormand Beach Award — given annually since 1948 to the school’s top football player, as voted by his teammates. His father (in 1969) and younger brother Josh (1997) are also past recipients of the Beach award.

At a Dec. 4 press conference to announce his being named head coach, Atterberry spoke about the loyalty he has for the Southeastern football program.

“This is a special place to me and it is a big reason that I’m even in the position to take this job,” said Atterberry. “I’m excited to have the opportunity to give back to a place that has given so much to me.”

Keith Baxter, his predecessor as Savage Storm head coach, will continue to be the director of athletics at SEOSU.

“It is an exciting time for Southeastern,” Baxter said. “Bo is a great fit for this program and he brings a passion for the game and for this university. He has played and coached here at Southeastern and has been a winner at both levels.”