By: Jonathan Szczepaniak | Southfield Sun | Published April 16, 2024
SOUTHFIELD — The defending Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 state champions will have a Super Bowl champion leading the sidelines this year.
Following the departure of former head coach Aaron Marshall, now at Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, Southfield A&T High School announced Keith McKenzie as its new head football coach for the 2024-2025 campaign.
McKenzie, who played eight seasons in the National Football League with the Green Bay Packers, the Chicago Bears, the Buffalo Bills and the Cleveland Browns, which included winning a Super Bowl championship with the Packers in 1996, has coached throughout the Division I and II college ranks for 15 years. McKenzie was drafted in the seventh round of the 1996 NFL draft by the Packers.
“We are thrilled to welcome Keith McKenzie to our Southfield family,” Jennifer Green, the superintendent of Southfield Public Schools, said. “His impressive background as a player, coach, and educator aligns perfectly with our commitment to student-athlete development and fostering a culture of excellence.”
McKenzie, a Detroit native, previously served as the defensive line coach at his alma mater, Ball State University, where he set the career sacks record (25) and was inducted into the university’s hall of fame in 2006.
While also serving at the helm of the football program, McKenzie will be appointed the student support network coordinator, with the primary job of providing resources and support to students to aid in their development both academically and personally.
McKenzie will be accompanied by his wife, Tamkio McKenzie, and their three sons as they join the Warriors family.
“I am honored and excited to join Southfield Public Schools,” Keith McKenzie said. “I look forward to working with the talented athletes, dedicated coaches, and passionate staff to continue the tradition of excellence and to empower our students to reach their full potential.”