MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) - Blackman High School has officially found the next leader for its football program. Principal Justin Smith announced on Wednesday, (Jan. 15th), that veteran championship-winner Will Hester will take the helm as the new head football coach of the Blaze.

Hester, a seasoned leader with 26 years of coaching experience, arrives at Blackman following a successful tenure at Ravenwood High School and a brief stint in school administration. He steps into the role previously held by Matt Kriesky, who resigned just one week ago following a historic 12-2 season.

"Coach Hester is an elite football coach who has an unmatched reputation for building championship-level programs at the highest level," Smith said. "In his 26 years of coaching experience, he has a proven track record of player development and program leadership."

The move marks a homecoming of sorts for Hester, who is well-acquainted with the local gridiron landscape. Before his rise to state-wide prominence, Hester spent three years as the head coach at La Vergne High School from 2007 to 2009, giving him deep roots and established experience within Rutherford County.

Hester’s coaching resume is among the most decorated in the state. Most notably, he transformed Ravenwood into a perennial powerhouse. Over seven seasons with the Raptors, Hester’s teams never missed the postseason. His tenure included:

• One State Championship (2015)

• Two State Championship Appearances

• Three State Semifinals

• Five State Quarterfinals

While his win-loss record—including a dominant 76-17 mark at Ravenwood—speaks for itself, Smith emphasized that Hester’s fit at Blackman goes beyond the scoreboard.

"While Coach Hester loves to win the right way, his passionate desire to care for people (players, families, coaches, faculty, staff, community members) is what made it clear that he is a perfect fit for Blackman High School," Smith noted.

The appointment marks a quick return to the sidelines for Hester, who spent the current school year serving as an assistant principal at Brentwood Middle School.

Hester will begin meeting with current staff and parents during his off-hours before joining the Blackman faculty full-time in mid-February.

He inherits a Blaze program that is coming off one of its most successful runs. In 2025, Blackman reached the Class 6A semifinals, with their only two defeats coming at the hands of state champion Oakland.