Panthers could name coach this week

CHURCH HILL — Church Hill Middle School officials have lined up interviews with potential coaching candidates and hope to have an interim head football coach in place this week, according to principal Sherry Price.

Football players, parents and school officials at CHMS knew they’d have a new head coach this season. They just didn’t expect it to change a second time mere weeks before the start of the season. But that’s exactly what happened.

A little more than a week ago, Bryant Hill resigned his position as the Panthers’ first-year head coach to accept a teaching and coaching position at West Ridge High School in neighboring Sullivan County. The former CHMS assistant coach was tabbed to step to the helm when Jeremy Jones resigned earlier this year.

When Hill resigned, school officials immediately posted the position and put the word out that the Panthers were in the market for an interim head football coach. This close to the start of a new school year, an interim position is not uncommon.

When athletic director Daris Green returned from vacation this week, he and Price hit the ground running to review applicants and schedule interviews.

“We are very hopeful that we will be making an announcement by the end of this week,” Price said.

In the meantime, Price said CHMS head wrestling coach and assistant football coach Parker Estes has worked closely with Chase Combs, Kevin Grigsby, Adam Hagood and others “to make sure practice and scrimmages are setting the stage for a great season.”

“As always, our community came together. We had some previous coaches, parents and others who just love our boys (and the game) step up and help,” Price said. “The parents have already moved forward with planning how to support the team with meals and are pouring into those stepping in to keep up the encouragement and morale of our team.”

The Panthers, who open the season Aug. 8 at South Greene, also have an opening for an assistant football coach posted on the school system’s website.

Other coaching positions currently posted on the Hawkins County Schools’ website include head boys soccer and head girls basketball at CHMS; head boys basketball at Surgoinsville Middle; head boys cross country, head girls basketball, assistant football and assistant volleyball at Rogersville Middle; assistant track and assistant basketball at Cherokee; and head boys track and freshman girls basketball at Volunteer.