[Strikeout King]

LOG MOUNTAIN — Contrary to rumors floating around message boards and in the community, Bell County has not made a decision on who their new football coach will be.

The main rumor going around has Knox Central coach Wayne Mills, a former assistant for the Bobcats, as the man to replace Dudley Hilton as Bell County’s new head football coach.

The rumors have been so prevalent that BCHS principal Jeff Saylor sent a letter out to Monday to all players, parents and fans to put them to rest and outline the process for the new hire.

“Regardless of what you have heard, there has not been a decision made at this time,” he said in the letter. “This is a high profile job and there has been a lot of interest and we have received applications from several states.

“The superintendent and I are personally leading the search for our next coach and I can tell you that no one has been offered the job and anyone who says that the search is over and a decision has been made is not being truthful.”

Key dates in the process include:

— Jan. 7. By that date a committee of about six people to oversee the search will be formed.

— Jan. 10. The Bell County High School SBDM Council will meet to give Saylor and the committee authority to conduct the screening of applicants and interviews.

— Jan. 15. The deadline for applications for the position.

— Feb. 1. Saylor said he hopes to have a new football coach named by that date.

No formal interviews have take place and none will take place until after Jan. 15, when all applications have been received.

“As part of the application process I have talked to several coaches about our football program. These conversations have been in person and by telephone,” Saylor said. “These conversations have consisted of where our football program is at this time, the future of our football program and what my expectations are for our football program in general.

“Also, I have answered questions concerning teacher certification, family concerns, assistant coaches and compensation. These conversations have been informal in nature and should not be considered as an interview.”

In the meantime assistant coach Brian Crawford will be in charge of the winter weight and conditioning program at Bell County.

“I want to express to everyone concerned that the superintendent and I realize that this is an important task and we assure all of you that we will hire the best coach possible. Once a decision has been made we hope that all of Bell County will get behind our new coach,” Saylor added in the letter.

“Bell County Football is a source of pride for our community and it is our goal to insure that we remain the ‘King of the Mountains.’”





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