LOUISA Doctors usually don’t need a second job.
Tom Frazier only has to walk across the street to start his night gig.
Frazier, a Louisa native and former Lawrence County football player, enters his 16th year as a gastroenterologist at Three Rivers Medical Center, steps away from the school’s campus and Luke Varney Jr. Memorial Field.
When he moved back to Louisa in 2011, after graduating from medical school in Louisville and finishing his postgraduate work there, Lawrence County asked its 1997 alumnus to coach youth football. Over a decade later, he’s moved up to the varsity team as offensive coordinator.
“I worked at the hospital, and they asked me to coach the 6-year-olds,” Frazier said. “My son Mitchell came along, and I’ve always been his coach from the age of 6 until now.”
The Frazier duo won titles at every level, including securing a middle-school state championship in 2022. The young Bulldogs, guided by Mitchell, defeated defending state champion Corbin before taking down Paducah Tilghman, 40-0, in the final.
Dr. Frazier said his son leaned toward defense at an early age, and his path to becoming a signal caller came from uncertainty and necessity.
“I tried every way in the world to get him not to play quarterback,” Tom Frazier said with a grin. “I was hoping for an offensive lineman. I didn’t get one. Mitchell was a good linebacker; growing up, he was like his uncle Mike Frazier, who played for the Bulldogs.
“But some things happened and some kids moved away,” he added. “We needed a quarterback. It was between him and a good friend. The friend didn’t want it; Mitchell said he would do it.”
Now, Tom Frazier gets the opportunity to watch his son take the reins and become the new Lawrence County varsity quarterback this season. The younger Frazier realizes the big step he’s taking, and he has the support of his coaches and teammates.
“Caven Williams and I meet together after school,” Mitchell Frazier said. “We work out and throw the ball around. He’s been the main guy that I’ve worked with as I try to get used to my surroundings in my new position.”
Tom Frazier said the hospital administration has always supported his coaching ambitions. They work with his football schedule, and he can be easily tracked down if needed.
“It’s a great group of people at Three Rivers,” Tom Frazier said. “We all know each other. We go to church together. We know each other’s kids and we see each other at Walmart. They always know where I am. They can even walk across the street to say, ‘Dr. Frazier, we need you.’ They have been unbelievably accommodating of my contributions to the community and the school. The CEO, Greg Kiser, is a family guy and his boys played football here.”
Tom Frazier became one of the innovators of the new spread offense in Louisa after the Dawgs’ history of power rushers and a misdirection wishbone mindset. After watching the younger players progress through the system, he knew the personnel would have no problem adapting.
“When they were younger, it was very apparent that we had a lot of kids that could run and catch, but not as many that could block,” Tom Frazier said. “I had a good friend with me, and we sat down to figure out a way to throw the ball more. In the youth league, it’s kind of unheard of, but I knew that I had a group of kids that were smart enough. Mitchell was there, and I could teach him everything that I knew.
“These guys picked it up immediately,” he continued. “We were running run-pass options in the youth league. It’s how these kids are. They love football. They are always constantly wanting more. I came here to give back to the community, but these kids have given me more than I have ever given them. So many kids on this team that I’ve coached have become great players and have just made my life better.”
Mitchell Frazier said the team also has no worries about chemistry. They established a bond years ago and have proudly worn the same jersey together, including his teammates along the offensive line.
“In middle school, we won a state championship, and I was a quarterback for that team,” Mitchell Frazier said. “The chemistry was already there, and we’re all really close.”
The junior QB believes he gets his calm, confident nature from his father.
“He’s always been laid back,” Mitchell Frazier said. “That’s just how he is, but he’s still a hard-working guy. He always seems chill.
“I got my varsity rep as a freshman. It already felt big then, and when the lights go on (for that first varsity start), I’m sure it will feel surreal on that first night.”
Lawrence County varsity coach Alan Short said Mitchell Frazier relishes his opportunity under center and has waited patiently for his time under the Friday night lights. He’s fulfilling his destiny.
“Mitchell has been groomed for this since he was a little kid,” Short said. “He’s won championships at every level, including turf ball and middle school titles. He has a pedigree and experience. Is he going to be perfect? Absolutely not. There’s been nothing that gives me any indication that he’s not going to be successful.”
Tom has watched his son’s gridiron growth from the sideline and feels his son puts a lot more pressure on himself than anyone else. The Bulldogs recorded double-digit wins last year for the first time since 2009, and the lofty expectations swirl around this season’s edition after a trip to the Class 3A state quarterfinals in 2025.
Lawrence County hosts Martin County in the season opener on Aug. 21. Mitchell has already logged varsity minutes. Still, the first time the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback runs out on the field with his father will be a special moment.
“It kind of makes you want to step away and enjoy it,” Tom Frazier said, “but at the same time, I am just as committed to all these kids as I am to Mitchell. I’m pretty good at wearing multiple hats. When I’m dad, we never talk about football at home. We might talk about fishing or video games or Louisville sports, but we don’t talk about how he did or the team and what he should or shouldn’t do. We have more work to do. They need me, and I need them, so I am going to be there for them.”