New DCHS football coach Jeff Poston (center, with yellow tie) poses with Superintendent Jan Harris (left), new assistant coach Charles Hammon (right) and members of the school board.
Dade County Superintendent of Schools Jan Harris announced Tuesday that she and the school board have decided to give lifelong Dade resident Jeff Poston a shot at heading the Dade High football program. Poston, who was assistant coach under Dale Pruitt, who tendered his whistle after only one year, will now replace him.
In a Feb. 25 press release, Dade High principal James Fahney stressed Poston's long record as a football and wrestling coach at the school and said he began the new job with the respect of both players and parents.
Poston himself emphasized that Dade players are capable of success on the football field if they exert enough effort. "Too many young men in our county have let the past failures of the football program set their ceiling," he said. "I am a believer that they can accomplish so much more if they are willing to put in the work."
Charles Hammon, formerly employed by Chattooga High School, was named assistant football coach. Dr. Harris said he will begin immediately--his contract begins in March.
Other hires approved at the school board's Monday meeting are Hannah Stewart, DCHS athletic trainer; Tinena Bice, longtime system employee who is now to work three months full-time March-May this year, half-time at Dade Elementary and half-time at DCHS; Amanda Wooten, substitute teacher; and Patrick Frary, office assistant in Transportation (10 hours a week).
The board approved retirements for DES teachers Thlisa Ambrose, Danny York and Lisa Godwin at the end of their 2020 contracts. Longtime DCHS secretary Dianne Meeks will also retire in May. Finally, Sharon Griess, a Davis Elementary teacher, will retire at the end of her 2020 contract.
Resignations were accepted from Frances Taylor, bus monitor, effective Feb. 18; Nikki McCurdy, DES teacher; Jo Reed Brumley, DCHS math teacher and assistant footbal coach; assistant DCHS principal Angie Cornutt; Katelyn Horton, DCHS math teacher; Greg Martin, DCHS agriculture/welding teacher; Barry Shrader, DCHS science teacher and coach; and Troy Boeck, DCHS math teacher and coach.
That's a lot of coaches leaving the system. Here are some head coach recommendations besides Poston's. Basketball: Travis Branson and Regena Logan for boys' and girls' teams, respectively; Chris Brown, baseball; Stephen Graham, softball; boys' and girls' golf, Nick Wilson; Kaity Mizell for boys' tennis and Jennifer Wood for girls'; Josh Hurst for cheerleading pep/comp; Philip Bell for boys' track and Travis Branson for girls'; Jeff Poston for wrestling as well as football; Matt Jelley for boys' soccer and Aaron Stanton for girls'; Carrie Morris for volleyball, Al Barton for bass fishing and Matt Sweat for eSports. Cross country coach is to be announced.
