Coach Ken Wiginton is impressive. And it helps to recognize past teachers/coaches who have contributed to shaping the reputation of Lampasas High School and its products. Rob Borchardt, Class of 1994, nominated Coach “Wig,” as he is affectionately called, because to this day he affects the former student in a way only a solid teacher and coach can: lastingly.

A 1959 graduate of Ballinger High School, Ken Wiginton attended San Angelo Junior College for two years on a football/basketball scholarship and then transferred to Sam Houston State in Huntsville on a football scholarship for three years and a basketball scholarship for his fifth year of eligibility. There he met his future wife, Mary Louise Haydon. They married before their last year of college, graduating in May 1964.

His first coaching job was at Aldine High in Houston, followed by Cleburne in 1967 as head basketball coach and JV football coach. He left Cleburne to take an offensive coordinator position at Mexia for one year.

His first head football/ athletic director job was in 1973 at Joshua High School. In 1975, he accepted a job as offensive coordinator for Rodney Hudson, athletic director/head football coach at Athens. After three seasons together, they joined the staff back in Cleburne until 1982.

Coach Wig came to Lampasas in 1982 with Rod Hudson. Hudson came as the head football coach/athletic director, and Wiginton was his offensive coordinator for football and head boys’ basketball coach. He was the head basketball coach from 1982 -87. In those six years, the team made the state playoffs three times. He led the boys’ basketball team to bi-district and area in 1984 and 1985. This was the first time in 35 years the Badgers made it to the state playoffs. He repeated this legacy in 1986.

In 1985-86, the Badger football team also was impressive under the leadership of Hudson and Wiginton, becoming undefeated district champions and advancing to the second round of the playoffs. Then in ’86, the football team remained undefeated district champs for the second consecutive year, a first for Lampasas football in more than 43 years.

In 1987 and 1988, the football team was undefeated district champion again, the fourth consecutive year to receive that honor.

Then in 1989, Coach Wiginton was promoted to head football coach after the death of Coach Hudson. Again the team enjoyed the distinction of undefeated district champion. That marked five years in a row, undoubtedly a record in Lampasas High School football history.

He stepped down as head football coach after that winning streak to take on the freshman football team and freshman girls’ basketball team from 1990-94. Coach Wiginton developed those teams and in ’94 and ’95 as head basketball coach he led the girls’ team to the bi-district championship.

He returned to coach varsity football as defensive secondary coach from 1993-95, and the team made the state semi-finals in 1993 and area finals in ’94.

Everything he touched turned to gold, as Coach Wig took three Lampasas varsity teams – football, boys’ basketball and girls’ basketball – to the playoffs as their head coach. Seven of the 10 varsity teams he coached while here went to the playoffs.

Besides coaching, he taught health for 13 years, was named Teacher of the Year once and Coach of the Year twice.

Coach Wiginton now enjoys retirement and golfing. He and Lou have two children. Lee is the head coach/athletic director at Mexia High School and is married to Becky. They have two children, Haydon and Julia. Jill and her husband, Brad Schaffer, live in Austin and have one child, Hudson Ray.

Let’s hope that “winning” touch rubs off on more of us in Lampasas!