Kennedy Athletics Director Aaron Stecker didn't have far to look to find a new football coach after Tim Lewis resigned in December.

He was right there in the building.

Stecker announced Tuesday that Brian White has been named Kennedy's head football coach.

White has been a Cougar assistant football coach since 2006, serving as defensive coordinator as well as coaching linebackers, running backs and tight ends. He was named the Iowa Football Coaches Association Class 4A assistant football coach of the year in 2010.

White also has been Kennedy's head track and field coach for the past two seasons.

In addition, White is a social studies instructor who teaches Government, U.S. History and Economics classes.

White came to Kennedy from Washington, where he taught social studies and was an assistant football and track coach from 1995 to 2006.

"We could not be more excited about the opportunity to have Coach Brian White be the next leader of Cougar Football," Stecker said in a prepared statement. "Previous leaders of the program like Don Knock and Tim Lewis have built a strong tradition of football at Kennedy and Brian White is the right fit to continue building a championship program."

Lewis compiled a 78-65 record and took nine teams to the playoffs in 14 years as head coach. Knock had six playoff teams at Kennedy before leaving to join the Iowa State football staff. He is now athletics director at Gilbert High School.

Stecker said White is respected by faculty and students and called him "a fantastic educator." He also praised White's passion for athletics, particularly football.

"While highly competitive, Brian also realizes the importance and the priority that football provide a platform to develop life-long skills and leadership opportunities that will serve our student-athletes well beyond the playing field," Stecker said.

"Brian has had the opportunity to work within some very successful football programs under tremendous mentors in Wally Sheets and Paul James at Washington, as well as Tim Lewis at Kennedy," Stecker said. " Those experiences over 19 years as an assistant coach in the Mississippi Valley Conference have Brian ready to take on the challenge of running the Kennedy program and leading it at a championship level for year to come.”

White graduated from Linn-Mar High School and Coe College. He holds a master's degree from Northern Iowa in the educational leadership program.