Surratt named Athletic Director

Sometimes life comes full circle and that sure is the case for Linden-Kildare’s new Athletic Director Dillon Surratt.

Suratt is a household name in Linden and Coach Suratt is following in the footsteps of family after L-K CISD announced his hire on Dec. 19.

“This has been a lifelong dream of mine and a dream come true to be the Athletic Director and Head Football Coach at Lin- den-Kildare,” Surratt said. “I have always wanted to take over my own program and it’s just so special and a true blessing to be the AD at a school district where my dad, Stacy Surratt, graduated and all my uncles and grandfather. I can’t thank Mr. Burks and the Board of Trustees enough for allowing me to assume this position within the district.”

Surratt has traveled a road in the past 15 years that many dream of as well. After graduating from Redwater High School in 2010 and Texas A&M Texarkana in 2014, Surratt started his coaching career at Pleasant Grove in 2014.

From there he coached at Atlanta, New Boston, Queen City and most recently Liberty-Eylau.

Surratt spoke about what led him to being an educator/ coach.

“I have been in a field house with my uncle back in his Texas High days and growing up around him and other coaches and I felt like it was the best job in the world,” Surratt replied. “If I had to pin it on one specific person it would be my late grandfather Ray James Surratt. I can remember when we talked about coaching and how to coach and we would watch football every weekend.”

Surratt spoke at the Linden Lions Club meeting last Thursday and outlined his goals for all programs.

“The Lord brought me back home to a place where my grandfather was in the first class to graduate as a school of consolidation in 1961,” Surratt said. “I’m very fortunate to be here and have gotten to work right away on bringing back the pride and tradition that Linden-Kildare is known for.”

Surratt also stressed the need for increased participation and support moving forward.

“I will not leave here until we’re successful across the board and keep our kids here at L-K CISD,” Surratt said. “Participation is low in many sports at most all schools, especially the smaller ones but we want to get it back to where it used to be. I believe with the added pressure, if we don’t make changes to grow now, we won’t be around in 20 years.”

“We’re going to do our best,” Surratt added. “We have a saying, ‘all in, all the time’ and we are going to stick to that. I always believed if a program has been there before it will be there again. As an Athletic Director, you will see me in full support of every sport not just football, which for me came at an early age from my mother who made sure I never missed a practice or a game and was fully supporting anything I wanted to do and to make sure I did my very best in it.”

Every coach has their support system and most times it begins at home. Surratt and his wife Taylor have four kids, Hanna (13), Preslee (9), Emma (9) and Daxton (5).

With a new title and a solid outlook, Surratt is well prepared and on track to getting L-K back to where it once was.

“I’m very excited for the future of Linden-Kildare athletics and the community, the administration and most importantly the kids have been so welcoming,” Surratt said. “There’s going to be a lot of changes around L-K and like I’ve said before I’m excited for the challenge and ready to bring the Pride and Tradition back to Linden-Kildare.”