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.

&#8220We're getting really close,” Butler County Schools Superintendent Mike Looney said. &#8220We'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.

&#8220I 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. &#8220These 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.

&#8220I'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.

&#8220They 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.

&#8220It'll be something a little different,” Bush said. &#8220It 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.