Blackmon leading candidate to replace Vincent
Published 12:00 am Saturday, June 23, 2007
The search to replace Bryant Vincent as Greenville High School's athletic director and head football coach will come to a close Monday and it appears Ben Blackmon will be named as the school's 27th head coach.
The position, which must be posted until 7 a.m., Monday in accordance with state law, will most likely be filled by Blackmon Monday and the Board of Education will vote on his hiring later in the week during a special-called meeting.
“We're getting really close,” Butler County Schools Superintendent Mike Looney said. “We'll have all of our ducks lined up in a row shortly.”
Rodney Bush, Tiger Pride booster club treasurer, said he has been impressed with Blackmon thus far and is looking forward to seeing the team in action.
“I believe the boys have gotten used to a young coach so I think it's good that we got a young guy and not someone older looking to retire,” Bush said. “These boys need leadership and they need stability.”
Looney agreed with Bush, saying he was looking for a coach with a record of staying in one place and a record of winning.
“I'm anxious to make a recommendation so the boys know who their coaches are,” Looney said.
And although coaches are coming and going, Bush said the team's resolve has stayed put.
“They are still in there working out and they'll be alright,” Bush said.
With every coaching change there is also a change in philosophy, but Bush said Blackmon's offense gels with what the team did last season and that should result in a quick learning period.
“It'll be something a little different,” Bush said. “It will take a while to learn but (Blackmon) said he likes to throw the ball about 15-20 times a game and that's what we did last year.”
Once a head coach is in place, Looney also expects to have a recommendation for a head boy's basketball coach to replace Ernest Hill.
Hill, who resigned from Greenville to take a position at Spanish Fort, was named head boy's basketball coach after Victor Smith was relieved of his duties in early March.
Hill also served as the Tigers' defensive coordinator.
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These items relating to Greenville High School athletics were addressed during Thursday night's Board of Education:
The Board accepted the resignation of Victor Smith, former Greenville High School basketball coach.
An architectural rendering of the proposed field house/indoor practice facility and track at the school was unveiled and bids are planned to go out for construction in early August.
Included in the drawing was a full football stadium, although there are no current plans to build one.
The drawing included a 3,000-seat capacity home side and a 1,500-seat capacity visitor's side.
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The Greenville High School football team will be holding a car wash today at Wal-Mart from 8 a.m. – noon. Donations are appreciated.