By Cara Cowan Watts | Cherokee 411
1957 – 2026
Oklahoma
Honorary EBCI Citizen
Kent Briggs was an assistant coach from 1980-88, head coach from 2002-07.
An assistant coach for nine seasons, Briggs, 68, was the head coach at his alma mater from 2002 through 2007. A true Catamount, Briggs spent 15 of his 36-year coaching career at Western Carolina, including the six seasons as the head coach.
Funeral arrangements and details regarding memorial services and opportunities to honor Kent Briggs’ memory will be shared as they become available.
The Catamounts earned a pair of signature upset victories under Briggs, defeating second-ranked Furman, 41-21, in Cullowhee in 2005 and No. 19 Eastern Kentucky in 2006. WCU also reclaimed the “Old Mountain Jug” in dramatic fashion in 2004, rallying for a 30-27 victory over archrival Appalachian State in Cullowhee. The win was just the Catamounts’ second over the Mountaineers in 20 years. WCU also came within reach of its first-ever victory over an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent, falling 7-3 at Cincinnati in 2005.
Briggs’ impact extended far beyond the game. During the spring and throughout the 2005 season, he remained at the helm of the program while courageously battling head and neck cancer.
Originally from Asheville, N.C., and a standout at A.C. Reynolds High School, Briggs stayed close to home to play for the Catamounts from 1976-79. He started several games as a redshirt freshman in 1976, throwing for 353 yards and four touchdowns while completing 25 of 40 passes with just one interception. After serving as the backup to All-Southern Conference quarterback Mike Pusey in 1977 and 1978, Briggs appeared in nine games as a senior, completing 24 of 41 passes for 270 yards and a touchdown.
