LPS board approves hiring of LHS football coach

Lawton High School has hired Westmoore head football coach Lorenzo Williams to take the same position with the Wolverines.

The LHS search was needed after Ryan Breeze resigned from the job just days after the end of the 2023 playoffs. Breeze spent six years as the LHS head coach, taking the job after his father Randy stepped down after 12 years directing the Wolverines’ program.

Williams was a standout defensive lineman for Midwest City during his high school career before signing a National Letter of Intent with Missouri where he gained honors as the Tigers’ nose guard, racking up a pair of All-Big 12 honors during his final two seasons in Columbia.

The talented defender became a popular player for media members at Mizzou due to his candidness and willingness to talk, win lose or draw. He wound up becoming one of the top defensive players in school history in sacks, fumbles forced, fumbles recovered and blocked kicks.

“I graduated from Midwest City High School and Lawton High was always our biggest competitor when it came to district champions,” said Williams when asked about joining the LHS program. “The caliber of athletes and community that surrounds this program has always been in the forefront of Oklahoma High School Football. They expect greatness, they expect to win and I’m happy to add my chapter to such a storied program. What most excited me was the people I get to work with. From the Superintendent to the Principal, I feel like they are real people, real family, real supporters and I’m excited to work for a group of people like that. The football will take care of itself, being surrounded by good loyal people is priceless.”

After college, Williams took a job at Central High School in Springfield, Mo., where he stayed for four seasons, including two as the head coach. But Williams was eager to come home to Oklahoma and took the head coaching position at Westmoore to be closer to his family, including his mother.

During his prep playing career he was named honorable mention on The Oklahoman’s All-State football team his senior year at Midwest City.

Williams was among a list of “around 20” coaches who applied for the Lawton High job and immediately moved to the forefront of the contenders after his interview with LHS administrators.

His hiring was approved by a unanimous vote as part of the monthly certified personnel that was given approval by the Lawton Board of Education at its Monday meeting.

One of the first orders of business for the new coach will be to conduct interviews with the coaches on the staff and then start putting together his own staff. LHS officials would not discuss whether or not Williams was going to be able to bring some of his staff from Westmoore with him.

“I can’t give you all the secrets man, Coach [Javon] Harris and Coach [Brett] Manning might be reading this,” said Williams jokingly. “But I will tell you we are going to have fun; I’m going to love my players and I’m going to give them the opportunity to be great and change their lives.”

“I’m looking forward to jumping in with both feet and learning the traditions and getting started. This is going to be fun!”