Multiple new faces are helping mold and guide the Lady Cats' athletics program, with three new hires joining Pilot Point’s coaching staff.
Rachel Maxwell, Nancy Watson and Hannah Thompson are the newest members of the Lady Cats coaching staff, with each one bringing a fresh perspective to the coaching staff.
“They've already gelled as a group, and you can tell they fit in with our existing staff,” said Chad Worrell, Pilot Point athletic director and head football coach. “They're all working well together and bringing changes to our girls program, which has had some success, but I think that those coaches are going to add to the overall growth and success for the entire girls program.'
Maxwell joins the Lady Cats’ coaching staff as Pilot Point High School’s new girls athletic coordinator, head girls basketball coach and girls assistant track coach.
“She came highly recommended,” said Worrell. “We took our time with that job and interviewed some great applicants …, but with Coach Maxwell we thought it was a good fit, and we’re sure she’s ready to be a head coach.”
Maxwell spent the better part of the last decade working at Decatur High School, where she served as an assistant coach for the Lady Eagles’ track, softball, cross country and basketball teams, which won back-to-back state championships in 2025 and 2026.
“My ultimate goal was to be a head coach,” she said. “I grew up in Krum, so I’ve known about Pilot Point my whole life, and I’ve even played here, so when I saw the opportunity come available, I knew I wanted to jump on it and take the opportunity to build my own program.”
She said the Lady Cats have responded well to her arrival.
“They have bought into everything we’ve done, and they are more than willing to put in the work,” she said. “I haven’t seen anyone [slacking off], and that’s a key thing. I can teach them defenses, and we can get our shots, but if we’re working hard in practice and playing hard in games, that’s a big positive because we can build on that.”
Maxwell emphasized that she plans to help the Lady Cats’ basketball team find the footing that has been missing in the last few seasons.
“We may not be champions this year, but I hope for us to be state champions one day because I know what that feels like,” she said. “That is the ultimate goal, but at the same time I want our athletes to leave Pilot Point prepared to step into the world as hard workers and as leaders.”
Watson comes to Pilot Point as the Lady Cats’ new head of strength and conditioning, head track coach and assistant volleyball coach after three years with Cooper ISD.
During her time in Cooper, Watson served as an assistant coach in cross country, powerlifting and led the girls track team to their first district title in over a decade and their first area championship in school history as head coach.
“It was a bit of a drive [to Cooper] since I live in Gunter,” she said. “Pilot Point is a lot closer and has always been super competitive, and I’ve always liked the traditions they carry here. The leaders of a program also say a lot about it, and after meeting Coach Worrell, who seems like a great guy, I made the decision to come here.”
Watson shared her excitement for the new role.
“Helping build a program is exciting,” she said. “You get to see the little wins, and then the kids see them and start enjoying it more and more, and I want these girls to believe in themselves and take pride in what they do and take those traits out into the outside world.”
Thompson joins the Pilot Point staff as an assistant coach with the Lady Cats’ cross country, basketball and track programs after working the first year of her coaching career in Celina, where she served as an assistant coach for the Lady Bobcats’ cross country and track teams.
“I’m still a little new [to coaching], but I’m excited to add black to my orange and white,” she said.
Thompson said she was inspired to go into coaching after her own athletic career was disrupted because of the COVID- 19 pandemic.
“I felt like there was some unfinished business, but instead of playing sports, I wanted to be on the other side and coach them, and now I get to share my passion and love for them,” she said.
She added that she’s hoping to bring a little fun to the Lady Cats’ program.
“I want to bring a joyful and playful mood to workouts that can sometimes be tough,” she said. “We all know athletes have to put a lot of work, so being a shining light for these kids, even outside of sports, is important. I want our kids to know we’re their biggest cheerleaders in everything they do.”
