HICO — With a quarter of a century spent in coaching, all in assistant roles, Hico’s Todd Swearengin took a longer path than most to his first head coaching job.

But it’s because of those years — spent in successful programs under winning coaches — that the first-year Tigers mentor feels he’s ready for the challenge before him now.

Taking over a Hico program that has gone just 5-26 over the past three seasons, Swearengin will be tasked with restoring the winning tradition the Tigers enjoyed for most of the three decades prior. And he’ll be leaning on a deep well of experience and the things he learned from his own coaching mentors as he tries to turn HHS around.