Lance Roweton has stepped down as Bolivar’s head football coach after 13 seasons to take over as principal at Halfway High School.
"I have been interested in becoming an administrator for a couple years. I have a lot of history with Halfway. My family is from there and I know a lot of people out there," Roweton said. "It is a jump I can make to administration without having to move my family. I am actually probably the same distance to Halfway High School as I am Bolivar High School from where I live. I felt like right now this was what was best for me and my family."
Leaving Bolivar, which is also Roweton’s alma mater, was not an easy decision.
"Anytime you leave a place it is really hard because you develop really close relationships with your players. In that regard there is never a good time to leave," Roweton said. "You have great relationships all of the time. I was close with this group of seniors, but I have more groups of kids that I am close with."
Roweton was wildly successful at Bolivar taking a winless program with low numbers to a COC Small juggernaut as he went 116-32 in his time including a current 65-game conference winning streak.
Shifting from the sidelines to the stands will be a big adjustment for Roweton.
"There is nothing like Friday night," Roweton said. "To have the opportunity to compete with a group of young me and to hook it up with another community is really special. That will always have a very special place in my heart; the competition of a Friday night, the intensity of the games and to see those kids perform and execute in high-pressure situations. Then to see them graduate and go on to become successful people in society and successful people at their jobs."
Friday nights will also take on a tenor for Roweton’s wife and three young daughters.
"Two of my daughters said 'daddy you are the football coach you can't do this'. It has been a big part of my family. My three daughters and wife come to every game. That has been a huge part of their childhood so far," Roweton said.
The move will, however, open up more time for family.
"I am going to enjoy spending time with them and coaching their little teams in the future. I have been very present, but the time commitment is a big deal. This is a time in their lives where I think it would be best for me to be around more," Roweton said.
As tough as leaving the sidelines will be for Roweton, the opportunity presented at Halfway was one he could not pass up.
"I don't know if I would have been interested in a lot of schools, but I have always been interested in the Halfway Schools and the Halfway Community,” Roweton said. “When it opened up I just felt like it was the right time.”
