Duplissey departs, headed to Forney

File photo by Lester Murray GOOD TIMES - Kilgore High School head boys soccer coach Kris Duplissey (background, in grey), head coach of the Bulldogs since the 2006 season, is leaving to take the equivalent position at Forney High School, the News Herald has learned. For the first time in four years, there is a vacancy atop the Kilgore High School boys soccer program.

Kris Duplissey, who has been head soccer coach for three seasons, is leaving his position at KHS for a position at Forney, the Kilgore News Herald has learned.

Duplissey will become the Forney High School head soccer coach, and will also coach freshmen football and be an assistant coach with the school's cross-country program. His wife Erin, also a teacher, will continue to do so. The couple has three young children.

The coach said the move was unexpected, and that he and his wife really hate to leave Kilgore.

"We like it here. It's hard to leave, to be honest," said Duplissey, who was the assistant soccer coach at KHS prior to taking over for Whitney Keeling in the 2005-06 school year.

"We really like it in Kilgore, and I'm sure I'll be back as much as I can. My parents, my sister and brother are all still around here in Longview, and I'll be coming back to visit everybody."

Kilgore narrowly missed the playoffs in 2008, and will have a good group of returning players next season.

The coach's departure leaves the head boys soccer coaching position open, and also vacates the kicking coach position with the KHS football team. Athletic director and head football coach Mike Vallery commended Duplissey for doing a good job, is currently in the process of searching for Duplissey's replacement, which he said he hopes to name as soon as possible.