'Accountability' will be key building block as Westlake enters Kevin Whitley era

Westlake set to begin season with new head coach Kevin Whitley

For the Westlake Lions, the new Georgia High School Association football season will usher in a new era as longtime football coach, Kevin Whitely takes over the program. “The most impressive thing so far is we really don’t have to worry about guys being at practice. They love football and so we have a great turnout every day,” Whitley said when asked about what has stood out to him with his new team throughout summer workouts.

With him, Whitley brings a long coaching history which includes time at North Springs, Creekside, Stockbridge and Northgate as well as time at his alma-mater, Georgia Southern, where he served as assistant head coach and defensive backs coach and in 2021, served as interim head coach. “Right now, we’re just trying to hold each other accountable, we want to be a very confident football team and want to play together,” Whitley said of the culture he and he staff look to establish at Westlake.

During his time at Stockbridge from 2009 to 2018, Whitley led the Tigers to five region titles, including four in a row from 2014 to 2017, and nine consecutive state championship tournament appearances, reaching the semifinals in 2014 and 2017. “The biggest thing for us is accountability. Don’t let guys take shortcuts,” Whitley said of what he believes will be important factors for the Lions as they begin to work towards team goals. “Just do the little things. Focus on the things that we can control and then some of our talent can takeover. We have to play together and we have to have fun doing it,” Whitley said.