Seth McBroom comes to Kennett

KENNETT, Mo. - The Kennett High School basketball Indians start this season under a new coach, and the district has a new athletic director.

Seth McBroom, veteran Twin Rivers coach and administrator, was hired by the Kennett School Board and his contract agreed upon in executive session Tuesday.

“They had a job opening and we had a few conversations,” McBroom said Friday. “This just worked out.”

McBroom's new duties includes AEP teacher as well as basketball head coach for 2024-2025 school year, succeeding departing head coach Fred Garmon and retiring AD Jim Vaughan.

“Coach Vaughan is an unbelievable guy,” McBroom said. “I've known him ever since I was in high school.

“We've always had a good relationship,” the new coach added. “I remember the day when he actually went to Kennett. He coached my brother (Clarkton Reindeer AD and basketball coach Cole McBroom) at Twin Rivers here. I remember going down to Kennett his first year there and watching a lot of his games. Watching Coach Vaughan's process and watching him do work, really doing great things for the Kennett School District. I'm so proud of him. His are very big shoes to fill. Obviously, he'll be on speed dial in regards to both jobs.”

Indeed. Vaughan led successful programs at Kennett for most of his 18-year tenure and takes great pride in the annual golf-tournament fundraiser.

McBroom has high hopes for the coming season's crop of players and said he was impressed with Garmon's past program.

“I actually had went back and watched a lot of their games,” McBroom said of last season's contests. “They were running some things and they were doing some things that were very inspiring.

“I've known Coach Garmon for a long time too,” he continued. “I think the world of him. I was actually kind of pleased when I went back and watched some film when I was researching the job. Seeing some of the players, and some of the things they were running, I thought made a lot of sense. After watching some film, I got pretty excited about some of the kids. And some of the kids coming up. I'm just ready to get in there and meet the kids, see what the kids can do and then determine what direction we need to go.”

McBroom points to his parents when he discusses his affinity for sports, especially basketball, and said both he and his brother have benefitted positively from their direction.

“We for some reason fell in love with sports,” he said. “We probably should have went different routes.

“But we love our sports,” he added. “I can't say enough good things about our parents. Our mom and dad, they kind of laid that groundwork and allowed us to play sports. They gave us that opportunity even when they were working themselves to death when we were kids. And then for some reason, we just fell in love with the game. We probably knew we weren't gifted enough athletically to set the world on fire. So we started thinking of ways we could help others play the game.”

McBroom said it's tough leaving Twin Rivers.

“Well, I just have a ton of respect and love for the people over here at Twin Rivers,” he said. “It was just maybe time for change.

“For everybody,” he continued. “And they'll do fine. It's a great school here.”

And and he is anxious to get to work leading the Kennett program.

“Mostly, I'm excited for the opportunity to come down at Kennett and hopefully finish out my career there,” McBroom said. “I just look forward to building relationships with those kids.

“I'm excited to build relationships and to work with the Kennett staff.”