TAZEWELL, Va. – After two months of anticipation the Bulldogs have found their next head coach!
Former Patrick Henry head coach Seth Padgett was named the next head coach of Tazewell High School Monday evening at the Tazewell County Public Schools board meeting.
“I’m both excited and grateful for the opportunity to lead the football program at Tazewell High School,” Padgett said. “I want to sincerely thank the administration and the Tazewell County School Board for entrusting me with this role. I’m eager to get to work and start building on the program’s success.”
Padgett brings a wealth of experience to Tazewell, both as a player and a coach. A 2002 graduate of St. Paul High School, Padgett was a standout on the football field, earning three Cumberland District Defensive Player of the Year honors during his high school career. A true multi-sport athlete, he was also a first-team all-state performer in football, golf, and tennis, while excelling in basketball and baseball as well. He made history as one of the few athletes to earn first-team all-region honors in five different varsity sports in his senior year.
After high school, Padgett went on to play college football for four years at Union Commonwealth University (formerly Union College) in Barbourville, Kentucky, further refining his football skills and knowledge of the game.
Football runs deep in the Padgett family. His father, Walter Padgett, served as the head coach at St. Paul High School from 1986 to 1995, and Seth followed in his father’s footsteps by returning to coach at St. Paul after his college career. Padgett started as a teacher and football coach at St. Paul in 2007, and when the school consolidated with Coeburn High School to form Eastside High School in 2011, he accepted a position as offensive coordinator at Patrick Henry High School.
In 2015, Padgett moved on to Fort Chiswell High School to join Todd Tiller’s staff as the offensive coordinator for the Pioneers. After two successful seasons, he seized an unexpected opportunity to take the helm at Santa Rosa Academy, a public charter school in Menifee, California. There, Padgett led the Rangers to their first-ever winning season in program history during his inaugural year.
However, after a season of success, Padgett faced a personal family challenge and made the difficult decision to return to southwest Virginia to care for a loved one. In 2018, he resumed coaching, this time as the offensive coordinator at Chilhowie High School, where he helped the Warriors to a perfect 14-0 record before they ultimately fell short in the state championship game. During his one season at Chilhowie, the Warriors set a school record for most points scored in a season, averaging 43.87 points per game.
In 2020, Padgett’s career took another significant turn when he returned to Patrick Henry High School as the head coach of the Rebels. In his first season, which was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Padgett guided the Rebels to a 5-2 record and a playoff appearance. Over his five seasons at Patrick Henry, Padgett’s teams compiled a 37-20 record, including two appearances in the Region D championship game and two semifinal appearances.
Padgett will hope to build on his previous success in the VHSL Class 1 playoffs and pair it with the successful run that the Bulldogs have been on since 2019. During that time, former head coach J’me Harris led the Bulldogs to a school-record six straight Class 2 playoff appearances. With the Bulldogs moving up from Class 1 to Class 2 competition and a tough 2025 schedule ahead, Padgett is ready for the challenge.
“There will always be an adjustment period when you move up in class,” Padgett said. “But I’m familiar with some of the teams in the Southwest District and Region D, and I’m excited for the opportunity to compete against some of the best programs in the area. As a coach, that’s what you want — the challenge of facing top-tier competition every week.”
Padgett will also face the task of replacing 12 seniors—many of whom were four-year starters.
“While we’ll certainly miss some incredible talent from last season, I’m excited to see what the new players can bring to the table,” Padgett said. “It’s not about having a set way of doing things; it’s about putting our team in the best position to succeed. We’re going to evaluate our returning players and figure out what works best for them and for the team.”
Padgett’s various experiences and commitments will prove to be key factors as he looks to build a strong program at Tazewell.
“Football isn’t just something we do on Fridays in the fall,” Padgett said. “It’s a year-round commitment to doing things the right way. We will focus on becoming a stronger, faster, and better-conditioned team, both physically and mentally. We will hold our players to a high standard of effort, discipline, and academic achievement. Above all, I want to build a program that this community can be proud of.”
In Tazewell, football is always the talk of the town. The community will eagerly await August to see the new era of Bulldog football under Coach Padgett.
“The Tazewell community is passionate about football and has been incredibly supportive of the Bulldogs over the years,” Padgett said. “I look forward to working together with the community to continue advancing this program. I’m thrilled to be here, and I can’t wait to get started.”
