Travis Baxley comes to Charles Henderson from Beauregard, one of four new coaches looking to make an instant impact on defense.

After arriving at Charles Henderson in March, Baxley immediately watched video to see what kind of players he was would be coaching.

“During the next year and the next two years the defense is going to be really good,” Baxley said. “I was really excited to be a part of that. Part of my life’s mission is to be part of a dominant defense. After going through the spring and summer, I feel like we have a dominant defense that is about to emerge.”

Baxley coached linebackers during his first three years at Beauregard before transitioning to defensive backs last season. The Hornets finished the regular season undefeated and advanced to the third round of the state playoffs before being defeated by Jackson.

“I have noticed the difference in the attention, the interest and the participation in our program at Charles Henderson,” Baxley said. “It is a notch above anywhere else that I have ever been. It’s great to see, and it’s a necessary component to win championships.”

Baxley will work with the corner backs and other defensive backs under the tutelage of defensive coordinator Chuck Dunn.

“I did a lot of research,” Baxley said. “I looked at where he had been. He went to Prattville then on to South Alabama, Jacksonville State and then UAB. For me as a young coach, my eyes lit up and they are still lit up. It may be the best thing that has happened in my career to be under the tutelage and the guidance of Chuck Dunn.

“His character and the way he loves and cares for these kids has really rubbed off on me. Not that I didn’t do that before, but when I think of Coach Dunn I don’t think about calling up the next blitz. I think about the relationship he has with these kids.”

Baxley believes the pieces are exactly where they need to be to win a championship.

“This team is young and motivated,” Baxley said. “Coaching changes have been made for the positive. With the staff that Coach (Brad) McCoy and Coach Dunn has put in place, I believe that we are on the right track. I have been around winning programs so I know what winning football looks like and that’s us.”

Baxley will get his first taste of the Charles Henderson and Pike County rivalry next Friday night.

“I am really excited,” Baxley said. “We play Pike County in 10 days. We have a clock in our weight room that counts down tao the second of when we play Pike Count. We look at it every day.”