A longtime successful area football coach who led his teams to 10 IHSA playoff appearances, including a pair of trips to the state quarterfinals, has stepped down to fulfill personal family commitments.
Ryan Hebard, head football coach of the Knoxville Blue Bullets from 2012 through this past season, submitted his resignation during Christmas break. A 1992 KHS grad who played football for the Bullets, he served 10 years as defensive coordinator prior to replacing Toby Vallas as head coach.
“I just thought the time was right to step away and prioritize my girls as they enter young adulthood,” said Hebard, referring to oldest daughter Ava who’s a sophomore at the University of Iowa and daughter Ella who will graduate this spring from Knoxville.
“I talked it over with my wife (Addie) and my girls around Thanksgiving, then about a week before Christmas break, I talked with all of my assistant coaches and let them know where I was at. And then I told administration the following week. I wanted to give them as much time as I could, and do what was best for the program.”
‘Maybe it’s a sabbatical, maybe it’s permanent’
The Blue Bullets are coming off a 2-7 season, snapping a streak of 10 consecutive state playoff appearances under Hebard. Knoxville advanced to the state quarterfinals in 2019 when the Blue Bullets went 11-1, and again in 2022 when they finished 9-3.
“It’s been a great ride,” said Hebard, who will remain a biology teacher at Knoxville. “We’re a small school … we take what we have, and we get the kids to buy in. And I’ve had excellent assistant coaches — I can’t say enough about that. It’s not a one-man show by any means; we work as a unit.
“I’m going to miss it all. The prep, the practices, the time in the weight room. And just seeing the kids on a day to day basis.”
He added, “I just needed to step back and take a breath. I’ll try to live without it for a little bit and see what it’s like. Maybe it’s a sabbatical, maybe it’s permanent, who knows?”
‘I was surrounded by good football growing up’
Hebard was an offensive and defensive lineman for the Blue Bullets under head coaches Dennis Larson and Dave Bass. He went on to play football at NCAA Division III football power Augustana College.
“I had great mentors at Knoxville with Coach Larson, Tim Engebretson and Dave Bass,” Hebard said. “And then I had excellent coaches in college — I was surrounded by good football growing up.”
Hebard got his start in coaching under Larson at Abingdon High School.
The Blue Bullets went 83-45 during Hebard’s 13 seasons as head coach.
“We always got off the ball real well, and we were always physical up front,” Hebard said. “We had good solid offensive line play, and we played good defense.
“As long as we were seeing growth from the kids and they were putting their best foot forward, we considered it a successful season.”
He added, “I was so fortunate to have a lot of great kids and great coaches, and I had a lot of help along the way from supporters and good families that appreciated what we were doing. And I can’t say enough about my girls, especially my wife Addie who has been by my side through it it all.”
