New CCHS football coach starts rebuilding job

Front row from left are Edward Robertson, Corey Smith and Cort Litchford. Back row from left are Jackie Francis, John Womack, Trin Muse, Harold Jennings, Reece Smith, Coach Matt Daniel, Brian Washington, Noah Logsdon and Coach Josh Lance.

Spring sports and the 2017-2018 school year will be finishing up this week and the focus sports-wise will turn back to high school football. The Cannon County Lions football team has been working hard in the spring to implement a new offense that upcoming first-year head coach Matt Daniel is installing.

"So far I've been very, very pleased with these guys," Daniel said. "They've been going 100 mph, getting after it, and that's what these guys need, a lot of reps and a lot of work on fundamentals."

Daniel said 25 players showed up to the first spring practice workouts May 7. He hopes to have more student athletes come out for football by June.

"Several baseball players who just finished their season will be coming out. I talked to 10 others this past Monday who are supposed to get physicals and then there's the incoming freshmen so we would like to see 35-40."

Daniel said that there are no tryouts and as long as potential players attend all the workouts they'll have a spot on the team. Workouts will start Monday-Thursday 8A-12 noon in June.

Daniel looks to turn around a program that has been in the bottom of the region for the last 9 seasons.

One sign of improvement already comes from the addition to the coaching staff which is now full. Returning assistant coaches Jeff Bane will be coaching inside linebackers and running backs. John Robinson will be coaching the offensive and defensive line and Ed Atwood who served as the offensive coordinator last year will move over to the defensive coordinator position.

Additions to the staff include Josh Lance who will coach quarterbacks and the defensive secondary, Jim Parker coaches offensive line and inside linebackers and Cody Crouch who will coach wide receivers. Daniel will also coach the offensive line which will make him mobile enough to be able to install his new offense for next season.

Cannon County Hall Of Fame Football Players Jackie Francis and Harold Jennings were among several who attended a High School football meet and greet recently.