Jeff Myers is seeing a lot of familiar faces as he prepares for the 2022 football season.

Kingfisher High School’s head football coach on Thursday addressed the Kingfisher Lions Club ahead of his 19th season with the program.

“I’m really excited,” he said. “There are some changes on the sideline and on the field and it kind of gives you a new energy.”

The sideline changes he mentioned were those of his assistant coaches.

Among the additions to the junior high and high school staffs this year are the likes of Timmy Winans, Steven Wilson and Dylan Blundell.

Myers coached all three. They join Derek Patterson and Isaac Waltman, former players under Myers who are already on staff. Jacob Farrell, a KHS graduate, will also be a part of the junior high staff.

“It’s great to see guys who were once a part of the program come back and help coach the next generation,” said Myers.

On the staff for a second year are David Ellis, who will be the co-offensive coordinator with Patterson, and Keaton Callins, a former Guthrie High School standout.

Returning as defensive coordinator will be Stan Blundell, who has been on the staff for the entirety of Myers’ tenure.

Myers coached all three.

Myers discussed this year’s schedule changes as its the first of the two-year cycle in district realignment.

Remaining on Kingfisher’s district slate are McLoud, Mount St. Mary, Anadarko and Perkins-Tryon.

Newcomers are Mannford, Metro Christian and North Rock Creek, which sits in Shawnee.

“The geography part of our district doesn’t necessarily make a lot of sense when you consider Metro Christian has to travel to Kingfisher and Anadarko…and vice versa… the next couple of years,” Myers said.

In its non-district slate, Myers said he had the lineup of Bridge Creek, Weatherford and Chisholm lined up for the first three weeks of this season.

However, he said, Bridge Creek backed out late last spring, forcing Myers to find another foe.

He was able to do so, but it means a trip to defending Class 4A champ Clinton in Week 0 (Aug. 26) to open the season. After that is a home date with Weatherford, which is just a few years removed from playing in the 4A title game.

A repeat of last year’s injury bug is something Myers said he doesn’t want to see repeated.

As many as 10 starters - many of them two-way players - missed significant time a year ago. The team went 6-5 before losing in the first round of the playoffs at Plainview.

“I want to brag on our coaches, because considering all the injuries we endured and all the changes we had to make as the season went on, that was about as good a coaching job as we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Myers said. “Our staff and our players really pulled off something close to miraculous when you consider all we went through.”

Myers said this year’s team will feature about 45- 50 in grades 9-12.

“That’s up for us a little bit,” he said.

It includes a senior class of 13.

“That’s a talented group that’s seen a lot of playing time,” he added. “We’re going to rely on them, but also don’t be surprised to see our younger guys, even some freshmen, play some key roles.”