The Big Country Fellowship of Christian Athletes is honored to recognize Bob Cervetto, Head Football Coach and Athletic Director at Dublin High School, as the 2020 recipient of the Eddie Hodges Memorial Coach of the Year Award.
Coach Cervetto has dedicated his entire professional career to public education. After a 30-year stint at Stephenville ISD – both as a coach and then as an administrator – he returned to the sidelines in Dublin as the head football coach of the Lions.
When Cervetto came to Dublin in 2011, the football program had mere 18 players. That was just the starting line to building the successful program that the Dublin community would love. Cervetto went to work building the culture from the top to the bottom throughout the town and the school system.
After three years of building on the field, Cervetto led the Lions to the 2014 playoffs, their first postseason appearance in 50 years. An eight-win 2018 season was the school's first since 1983, and a 2019 playoff appearance was their fourth in six years.
Today, there are more than 100 students participating in football under Cervetto’s leadership, and the entire athletic program has more than tripled in participation and success since 2011.
Off the field, Cervetto cherished the responsibility to use his influence to impact lives. FCA was not part of Dublin High School before he arrived in 2011, but he personally started a huddle without the help of the local FCA rep at that time.
This year, under his leadership, the DHS huddle averages between 50-60 students each week when they meet on Friday mornings before school. The coaching staff also holds a bible study on Wednesdays with Cross Timbers Area Representative Rodney Payne.
“I have known Bob Cervetto for many years and I have never been around a man with the heart and desire to not only impact each and every student that he comes in contact with but the heart and desire to change an entire community,” said Payne.
In 2019, the Dublin ISD Board of Trustees voted to name the new football stadium built on campus the Bob and Norma Cervetto Field in the coach’s honor.
The Cervettos attend Double N Cowboy Church in Dublin.
“If I can change the life of a student in some capacity, I’ll think I’ve done good, Cervetto said. “I can’t believe I get to work with kids all day long – what an honor!”
The Eddie Hodges Memorial Coach of the Year Award is named after Eddie Hodges, a standout athlete at Abilene High who received both a football and baseball scholarship to Texas Tech. He finished his playing career at McMurry University after his mother, brother and uncle were killed in a tragic automobile accident.
Big Country FCA is grateful to Mr. Hodges and his family for their unwavering support of the ministry. It is our humble privilege to recognize the FCA Coach of the Year in Mr. Hodges honor.
This is the third year FCA has presented the Eddie Hodges Memorial Coach of the Year Award. The first two recipients were Hugh Sandifer of Abilene Wylie is 2018 and Houston Guy of Wall in 2019.