It’s been an offseason unlike any other for two of the area’s top high school football programs. South Pittsburg and North Jackson, located about 10 miles from one another, are perennial state championship contenders in their respective states, each averaging 11 wins per season in the last decade.
But both currently are without head coaches after the men they recently hired abruptly left without coaching a single game.
Citing “family reasons,” David McKinney resigned from North Jackson on Monday, just two months after being named the Chiefs’ coach and one week before spring practice was to begin. While the Chiefs are just beginning their search to find a new coach, South Pittsburg athletic director Vic Grider said his program is winding down its search for his football successor.
“We should have it wrapped up by next week for sure,” Grider said. “We had more than 100 apply this time and will be finished with interviews by the end of this week. We will have interviewed three finalists, and the next step is for our committee to meet and discuss who we will recommend.”
Grider added that spring practice will begin May 6 for the Pirates and their new coach.