EVANSVILLE — Johnte Hawkins is willing to make one singular promise.
The man was born, raised and spent most of his life in Evansville. He returned to Bosse High School, his alma mater, as an assistant coach. Hawkins is a firsthand witness what can occur when pride flows from every corner of the school.
He wants that feeling back on Washington Avenue within the football program. That’s step one.
The 2000 graduate was officially named the next Bosse football coach during the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. board meeting on Monday, Dec. 15. He takes over following back-to-back winless seasons.
“It meant something to walk through the school and wear your jersey,” Hawkins said. “The pride behind it all. I want to bring that back. Engage the community, get them back on board. I want Bosse to be just as relevant in football as we are in basketball year in and year out.”
Hawkins is no stranger to Bosse. He played football for the Bulldogs before attending school at Vincennes University and University of Southern Indiana. Hawkins returned in 2012 as a member of Shane Burkhart’s basketball staff and worked his way up to junior varsity coach (he has over 100 career victories). He previously coached football simultaneously for four years.
Hawkins is now fully in charge on the gridirion. Bosse only has 18 victories since 2013 and never won more than three games in that timeframe. The Bulldogs have played in the sectional championship game twice since its last postseason title in 2010.
“I’ve always had a passion,” Hawkins said. “What we choose to do at the end of the season? Just is what it is. But I want people to be like, ‘Let’s go to the Bosse game. Let’s show up for them like we show up to basketball games.’”
Stephan Mullen stepped down in October immediately following the 2025 season. He went 7-44 across five years and was the Southern Indiana Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2023. Among his reasoning for leaving the football program — Mullen remains the wrestling coach and was recently appointed the softball coach — was the need for a new voice and dwindling numbers.
Bosse (0-10 last season with back-to-back losses to Harrison) averaged 6.3 points per game and allowed 50.1 per game. Mullen estimated there were 22 players in the program by the end of the season. Among the top returners include quarterback Aiden Boyd, who led the team with 673 total yards.
“Once I can reignite that fire under some of the guys returning to football,” Hawkins said. “I think it will carry on. They’re just afraid of what it’s going to take. What people think. All the negative versus being part of the solution.”
The new head coach understands the challenges and isn’t promising an overnight fix. Among the major priorities is bulking up the overall numbers and “keep the kids that are supposed to come to Bosse.” That lack of depth has played a role in competing within the SIAC on an annual basis – the Bulldogs’ most competitive season came in 2023 with SIAC Player of the Year Elijah Wagner.
The new man in charge has faith.
“It’s not going to be easy,” Hawkins said. “I’m not promising a whole bunch of wins. Our wins will be predicated on getting to school on time, grades being right and showing up to practice on time. The discipline stuff and trying to reignite it that way. It will slowly come.”
Kyle Sokeland is a sports reporter for the Courier & Press. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @kylesokeland or email at kyle.sokeland@courierpress.com.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Johnte Hawkins officially named Bosse High School football coach
Reporting by Kyle Sokeland, Evansville Courier & Press / Evansville Courier & Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
