As Christian County prepares for another pivotal playoff game, Head Coach Lopez sat down with members of the Teaching and Learning pathway to discuss his coaching journey, the future of local football, and what it takes to build a winning program.
A Memory That Drives Him
When asked about his most memorable game as a coach, Lopez didn’t hesitate to recall the 2014 Class 5A state championship game at Hillsboro High School in Nashville. His team entered the game with a perfect 14-0 record and hadn’t trailed since the first quarter of their season opener.
“We lost to Knoxville West 21 to 6,” Lopez said. “That game motivated me to keep striving and keep working. It’s hard to win games, and it’s really hard to win a state championship.”
That loss continues to fuel his drive to return to that stage, though he acknowledges the challenge ahead.
The Future of Christian County Football
Looking five years into the future, Coach Lopez sees potential for Christian County football—but only with complete commitment from all stakeholders.
“Once it gets to the point where one person can branch everything together, whether it’s youth league, middle school, and high school, I believe it’ll be pointed in a really good direction,” he explained. “It’s going to take total commitment and buy-in from the administration, the school, the community, and the players.”
He’s realistic about the competition, noting that programs like Louisville Trinity and St. Xavier—all-boys schools with over 2,000 male students each—present a different level of challenge. Still, he believes success is achievable if it truly matters to the people involved.
Embracing the New School
On the topic of combining the two local high schools, Lopez approaches the change with both pragmatism and respect for tradition.
“I’m forward, as long as we do it the right way,” he said. “I’m always a Hopkinsville Tiger, and I think a lot of people are both still. But for the kids, it makes sense to put our resources together because our kids deserve the best in academics and athletics.”
He emphasized the importance of honoring both schools’ traditions and the quality people who came through them over the years. “We have to be intentional about honoring everybody and not forget about them or brush them to the side.”
A Message to His Players
With playoffs underway, Coach Lopez had a clear message for his team: be proud of the commitment you’ve made.
“Football starts in January,” he reminded them. “They made a commitment to getting in the weight room, to working hard, to being great teammates to each other. Football is a brotherhood—you’ve got to have each other’s backs.”
He encourages his players to be the best version of themselves without making the moment bigger than it is. “It’s still a football game, still one play at a time,” he said. “I’m proud of them. They’ve put the work in, they’re great young men, and they’re fun to be around.”
High School Memories Matter Most
Despite playing at the University of Memphis and at Neyland Stadium in front of 120,000 fans, Coach Lopez says his best football memories come from high school.
“Enjoy high school,” he tells his players. “Once you get to the next level, whether academically or athletically, it’s a business. People don’t care about you as much as they do in your grassroots, in your hometown.”
His favorite high school memory? A regional finals victory over Paducah Tilghman during his senior year after transferring from Todd County. Playing alongside future standouts and under Coach Clayton—who now works for him—the Tigers shocked the second-ranked team in the state with a 21-7 upset victory.
“The entire visitor section and track was full with orange,” he recalled. “That atmosphere just sticks out to me the most.”
The Playlist and the Brotherhood
When asked about the pregame playlist, Lopez laughed about the generational divide in musical taste, mentioning artists like Webbie and NBA YoungBoy mixed with “coach selections.” He controls the field playlist because, as he puts it, “If I’m going to be out there, I want to hear something I like listening to.”
But behind the tough coaching and high standards is someone who understands the importance of balance. “If you’re only one way and not the other, you don’t really build that relationship with them,” he explained. “At the end of the day, they should know I’ve got their back.”
Player Deondre Watkins highlighted one of his favorite Coach Lopez traditions: bringing superfan “Blade” into team huddles—a gesture that keeps school spirit alive and connects the team to its community.
A Multi-Sport Athlete
Before becoming a coach, Lopez excelled in multiple sports. Baseball was actually his best sport growing up, though he also scored 1,000 points in basketball, won state in track relays at Todd County, and of course, played football.
“I just played all the sports,” he said simply. “I probably would do the exact same thing” if given the chance to do it all over again.
As the Tigers continue their playoff run, Coach Lopez’s message remains consistent: stay committed, trust each other, and remember that this is about the young men having success. With that foundation, Christian County football has a fighting chance not just tonight, but for years to come.
Go Tigers!
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