Olton’s Head Boy’s Basketball Coach, Bobby Workman was recently promoted to Athletic Director of the Olton Athletic Program on April 19th.
Workman was named interim Athletic Director on April 9th, after former Athletic Director Ross Lassiter stepped down, before officially being named AD on April 19th.
Workman grew up in Olton, born and raised and graduated from Olton High School.
“I went to West Texas A&M for a semester before transferring to Texas Tech, where I graduated from in 2014,” he explained.
Workman is married to his wife Kori Dee Workman and they have three children, Brayson, 7, Britton, 6, and Brooks, 4.
Coach Workman started his coaching career at Hale Center in 2014.
“Adam Cummings, who is currently the head football coach at West Plains gave me my first opportunity as a coach in 2014, when I was fresh out of college,” Workman recalled. “I was at Hale Center for four years, before coming to Olton in 2018.”
Coach Workman talked about what it means to him to be the Athletic Director of the Olton Athletic Program, saying, “ It’s everything.”
“I’ve been telling people, a lot of coaches dream of being an athletic director, but I dreamed of being the athletic director at Olton High School,” he stated. “For that dream to come true, it is a blessing for sure. I take so much pride in our community and the kids that we have here. To do my part and take on this role, it really means the world to me.”
The Coach talked about the philosophies he hopes to continue to build the Olton program around, saying, “I want to continue the success we’ve had and in order to do that, I think we have to continue to build relationships with our kids, continue to show loyalty within our program and continue to spread community involvement and take pride in what we do. Those are the things I’m going to lean on are community, loyalty and just developing relationships with everyone that we come across.”
He added, “Hopefully we will make an impact on these kids, to where they can turn around and enter their lives and want to do the same things wherever they end up.”
Coach Workman talked about his decision to get into coaching, saying, “There have been a lot of coaches who have been great influences in my life, so a lot of that goes to them. Growing up and kind of doing everything, I was always around sports. More than anything, the more that I get into it and the more I coach, it’s just having an impact on these kids, some who don’t have a dad at home or don’t really have a home to go to. I just try to be that father figure for them or that support system that they need.”
He added, “When I first got into coaching that really wasn’t what I thought it was going to be, but the longer that I’ve been it, the more I realize that is what it is all about.”
Coach Workman talked about some of the coaches who inspired him on his journey to becoming a coach, saying, “One of the guy’s who really stands out is Joel Baker. He was my high school football coach and he’s now coaching in Hobbs. He’s been the AD here and has been at a few different places. He is the one who showed me the way and showed me how to do the things that I do.”
He added, “The other guy I think so highly of is Adam Cummings, who gave me my first coaching opportunity. He’s coached at Sundown and West Plains after leaving Hale Center. Talk about a man of character, he definitely showed me the way.
Coach Workman will continue to coach Quarterbacks and Defensive backs in football, as well as being the Head Boy’s Basketball Coach and Head Golf Coach.
“I know it’s going to be a lot on my plate, but I’m passionate about all of it and didn’t want to give any of it up,” he stated.
Coach Workman talked about what he’s most excited about, about being the AD at Olton, saying, “I think I’m most excited about just spreading the pride I have in Olton throughout our programs. I want to see our girl’s and boy’s programs kind of doing the same things and invested in the same things. That is what I’m most looking forward to.”
Outside of work Coach Workman said he loves being out on the golf course.
“Right now it is just chasing kids around, but when I can make time I love being out on the golf course,” he said. “That is kind of my thing. However, with chasing kids around I haven’t been able to play a whole lot and I’m fine with that.”