Collierville High School announced Friday that Kendrick Watkins has been named the head girls' basketball coach of the Lady Dragons. Watkins comes to Collierville with a proven track record of success, most recently demonstrated at Rossville Christian Academy (RCA), where he led the girls’ team to back-to-back Midsouth Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) state championships in 2023 and 2024. Watkins joined RCA in 2021 as the girls’ basketball coach and assumed additional duties in 2022 as the school’s assistant athletic director.
“Coach Watkins’ vision and enthusiasm align perfectly with our commitment to excellence both on and off the court,” said Collierville High School Principal Roger Jones. “We look forward to many exciting seasons ahead and the positive impact Coach Watkins will undoubtedly bring to our school community.”
Watkins brings a wealth of experience and a passion for developing student-athletes both on and off the court. In 2023, five RCA players were named to the Class 4A MAIS All-District Team including the Player of the Year, Offensive Most Valuable Player, and Defensive Most Valuable Player. After moving into a larger district class for the 2023-24 season, RCA continued to dominate and had three players land a spot on the Class 5A MAIS All-District Team, including the two-time Player of the Year. All three students from last year’s all-district team signed National Letters of Intent to further their academic and athletic careers. Watkins was also named the MAIS Class 4A (2023) and Class 5A (2024) Coach of the Year.
RCA’s back-to-back MAIS State Championships in Class 4A and Class 5A were the first girls MAIS state championships in program history. During their consecutive championship seasons, the Lady Wolves finished 67-5 overall with a 19-1 record in district play. RCA’s 34-3 overall record last season included victories over both state and national perennial powers.
Watkins was a two-sport athlete at Rainy River Community College, where he played basketball and football. He also gained additional coaching experience at both Riverside High School and Decatur County Middle School.
