06/03/2026
After Eight Seasons at Southeastern, Kevin Byrd Steps Away to Pursue Opportunity Closer to Family
After eight seasons transforming Southeastern football into a perennial playoff contender, head coach Kevin Byrd is stepping away from the Mustangs as he looks to continue his coaching career closer to family.
Following his son’s graduation this spring, Byrd said the decision was driven by a desire to be nearer to family while remaining on the sidelines.
“My son graduated this year, so my intention is to find a job closer to my family,” Byrd said. “I’m not retiring and I hope to be coaching somewhere in the fall.”
The move brings an end to the most successful coaching tenures in Southeastern football history.
When Byrd arrived in Remlap in 2018, the Mustangs were still a young program searching for success. Southeastern had won just eight games in its first six seasons of varsity football and had never won a region game.
Looking back, Byrd said he was surprised by the low expectations surrounding the program when he first arrived.
“When I took over in 2018, I was surprised at how low expectations were,” Byrd said. “It took some time to build their confidence. Over the course of the first three years, the players built a legacy and tradition of playing hard-nose football with great effort. If the players buy it, then that is most of the battle.”
While he hoped Southeastern could become a winner, Byrd admits he never fully expected the level of success the program ultimately achieved.
“I had hoped we would be this successful but didn’t really expect it,” he said.
That success came quickly. In Byrd’s first season, Southeastern earned the first region victory in program history, a breakthrough moment that helped change the trajectory of Mustang football.
“There are numerous big wins and accomplishments, but one of the biggest was the 2018 Sulligent homecoming game,” Byrd said. “That was the first region win in the history of the program, ending a streak of 30 consecutive region losses.”
The victory helped lay the foundation for what would become one of the most successful stretches in school history.
Under Byrd’s leadership, Southeastern reached the playoffs every season from 2019 through 2025, advanced to the second round multiple times, made two third-round appearances, and captured the first region championship in program history.
One of the highlights of Byrd’s tenure came during the 2022 season when the Mustangs finished 10-2 and claimed the Region 6 championship.
“The 2022 team was a special team,” Byrd said. “They accomplished a lot of the goals they set for themselves. We had graduated a large class of seniors in 2021, so it was refreshing to see the next group of leaders emerge and show everyone in the school that the program would be successful year in and year out.”
While championships and playoff appearances helped define Byrd’s tenure, he says his proudest accomplishment was the relationships he built with his players.
“I’m most proud of the relationships I have with the players,” Byrd said. “After about two years, the numbers in the program had grown and continued to get higher. I give most of the credit to the original 22 players on the 2018 team for buying in and showing the school we could be successful and have fun on the football field.”
Byrd credits the players and their willingness to embrace change for the transformation of the program.
“Changing the culture takes the players believing what you say and seeing the positive results,” he said. “The athletes at Southeastern are special in that they were ready to make changes to be competitive in football, and I think that culture has spread to the other programs in the school.”
Before entering education and coaching, Byrd worked in engineering. Though the move meant leaving behind a potentially more lucrative career, he says he has never regretted following his passion.
“I never regretted leaving the business field, other than the money,” Byrd said with a laugh. “I love competition and working with young people. I told myself early on, the day I do not love going to work, I’ll quit and go make money. That was 22 years ago.”
As Southeastern begins the search for its next head coach, Byrd offered a simple piece of advice to whoever follows him.
“Remember to be yourself,” he said. “Don’t try to be something you’re not because the kids will tell.”
When asked what he hopes his former players remember most about him, Byrd’s answer had little to do with wins or championships.
“I hope they remember that I love them and cared about them,” he said.
Although Byrd’s next coaching destination remains unknown, he believes the future remains bright for Southeastern football.
“Remlap is a special place and a great location,” Byrd said. “If the community would pour their support into the school and athletic programs, it could become a powerhouse both on and off the field.”
As he moves on to the next chapter of his coaching career, Byrd leaves behind a program that looks vastly different from the one he inherited eight years ago. What was once a program searching for its first region win became a championship contender under his leadership, creating a foundation that will benefit Southeastern football for years to come.
