Christopher Bagot named varsity football head coach

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Christopher Bagot at his introductory ceremony on April 18.

The Head Coach of Annandale Football has been a dream of mine,” coach Christopher Bagot said.

On April 18, that dream became reality, as AHS named Christopher Bagot to be the head coach of the varsity football team. 

Bagot will take over for long-time head coach Mike Scott, who retired in February after 15 seasons as the Atoms head coach.

“Coach Bagot has proven time and time again his love and desire for AHS, he’s a coach, teacher, and person who has been a part of the Annandale community for over 20 years,” director of student activities Brandon Sutphin said.

Bagot, a 2002 graduate of AHS, has been an integral part of the AHS community and it’s athletic programs for over two decades. 

After a successful playing career for the Atoms football and baseball teams, Bagot continued his football career at Bridegwater college. During his time at Bridgewater, he began working as an assistant for the Atoms football team. 

After graduating college, Bagot returned to AHS to work as an English teacher and an assistant coach for the baseball and football teams.

When I got to Annandale, I worked with Coach Scott professionally for the first time. There is nobody who has helped me more as a coach and teacher than Coach Scott,” Bagot said. “He was a great role model who showed me the time and effort it takes to be successful.  He taught me everything from doing paperwork for school to watching film for football.”

Bagot has worked his way up offensive coaching ranks, serving as the JV football head coach and a high-level assistant on the varsity staff in 2022.

In addition to his work within the football program, Bagot has worked as the head coach for the Atoms baseball program since the 2017 season. The team went 1-20 in Bagot’s first season, but he has turned the program around immediately. Since that season, the Atoms have reached two district championships, won multiple region games, and achieved multiple 10+ win seasons, all of which are tremendous strides for the program.

Now, Bagot looks to a new challenge. 

“I am really looking forward to everything that goes into the preparation for a football game and season.  I really am excited to get people into the weight room and make progress developing people as athletes.  I look forward to having a greater impact in the lives of our students and helping them develop as men,” Bagot said.

Atoms football performed well in 2020, with a record of 5-2 during the Covid shortened season. However, since that season, the team has struggled to a record of 5-15. Bagot will now attempt to ignite the program with new strategies and gameplans developed during his tenure as an assistant coach.

With Bagot at the helm, the program looks to turn itself around and reestablish itself as competitors in the National district and beyond.

“We have some very good players that I look forward to working with.  We have potential and it is up to me to push everyone to be better,” Bagot said.