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PCHS has new leader
Published Monday, February 16, 2009
Eddie Stephenson is coming back to Pike County, but this time he is staying for good.
Stephenson, the Citronelle head football coach who guided the Wildcats to a 3-0 first-round upset of the Charles Henderson Trojans last year, was named the Pike County Bulldogs’ head football coach and athletic director Monday night at the Pike County Board of Education meeting.
Stephenson said the desire to win a state championship brought him to Pike County.
“The commitment to winning is what drew us all to Pike County,” Stephenson said.
Stephenson brought his defensive coordinator at Citronelle, Zeb Ellison, to Pike County along with former Geneva offensive line coach William Moguel. Moguel will be Stephenson’s assistant head coach and offensive line coach.
During the interview process Pike County Schools superintendent Mark Bazzell put five state championship rings in front of Stephenson, but that did not faze Stephenson.
“I told him he needed a sixth one,” Stephenson said. “He told me ‘This is what the expectation is’ and I told him ‘Gladly.’ We want to win and we want to have goals that high.”
Bazzell said the head coach job at PCHS brought in 53 applications with 22 applicants who were previous head coaches and 12 who were current head coaches, but Stephenson stood out among those applicants.
“I am really excited about making this recommendation,” Bazzell said to the board. “I recommend this name with excitement.”
Pike County principal Mike Hall shares in that sentiment.
“We did a lot of proofing and looking through and we had a lot of high-profile names,” Hall said. “Coach Stephenson seems to have everything we are looking for. He respects the tradition here, but he is not in awe of it. One of the things I liked about him is that you know who is in charge when he is around.”
Stephenson’s first day on the job is Feb. 23.
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Comments
Posted by BulldogFan4Real (anonymous) on February 16, 2009 at 10:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow....Glad we got somebody...but gonna miss Coach Fred Holland coaching the defense. I'm behind the decisions by Dr. Bazell though...Good luck Coach Stephenson!
Posted by pchsalum (anonymous) on February 17, 2009 at 7:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am also glad that PCHS has a new head coach. I too will miss Coach Holland as Defensive Coordinator. He has done a great job with the athletes. The most important thing is that we all stay positive and look forward to a great football season whether we agree with the decisions the coaches make or not. After all, the program is for our children. Let's keep it positive for them!!!
Posted by thedillards (anonymous) on February 17, 2009 at 7:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Does anyone know what subjects the two assistant coaches Stephenson is bring with him will teach?
Posted by turtle (anonymous) on February 17, 2009 at 7:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Welcome to the Bulldog Family Coaches Stephenson, Ellison, and Moguel. I am excited to see where our programs will be taken under the guidance of these men. So Fred won't be coaching at all? You are so right PCHSalum, let's keep it positive for the kids because they are the most important part of these programs. Go Dawgs!
Posted by turtle (anonymous) on February 17, 2009 at 8:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
To answer your question dillards, Coach Stephenson taught PE, advanced weights, aerobics, and weight training at Citronelle. Coach Ellison also was a PE teacher. Coach Moguel is also listed as Phys Ed on Geneva's school website. One of the requirements for the job in addition to head coaching experience was that the applicants must hold a current Alabama teaching certification.
Posted by pchsalum (anonymous) on February 17, 2009 at 8:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No one knows for sure what those coaches will teach at PCHS. I'm sure that parents and students will find out for sure soon.
Posted by olerooster (anonymous) on February 17, 2009 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Eddie Stephenson is coming back to Pike County, but this time he is staying for good."
Am I missing something or does the article not explain the opening statement. Does the coach have Pike County ties or does "coming back" mean he has been in Pike County to play CHHS in the past and is now coming back???????
Posted by pchsalum (anonymous) on February 17, 2009 at 10:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was wondering the same olerooster. It seems to me that maybe he is "back" to play CHHS again.
Posted by turtle (anonymous) on February 17, 2009 at 11:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That's what I think it meant too pchsalum. It is an odd opening line. I also didn't mean they would all be teaching Phys ed in my other post. That was just what they are teaching currently at Citronelle and Geneva. I also wanted to add I loved Dr. Hall's comment at the end of the article. Let's go bulldogs!
Posted by muledeer (anonymous) on February 17, 2009 at 4:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe this coach will be given a chance and Bulldog fans can move on from the days of Coach Grant !
Posted by pchsalum (anonymous) on February 17, 2009 at 4:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with you muledeer!! It is much needed!!
Posted by turtle (anonymous) on February 17, 2009 at 5:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The fact that he, along with his assistants, were on campus today meeting the other faculty and the kids, and then showing interest in the current sports going on by being at the softball and baseball fields after school has already gone a long way with me! They didn't have to do any of that but are making the effort and as a parent of a student-athlete that means a lot to me.
Posted by subteachone (anonymous) on February 17, 2009 at 5:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
from a parent of a citronelle player that was coached by Coach Stephenson all I can say is get behind him and watch,he is a great coach and can be great for the players he teaches more to them than just football,how to be good young men on and off the field ,he will be greatly miss by mama nay and the Cati cooks
Posted by Purplep (anonymous) on February 17, 2009 at 6:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
He will do great and be fine until he begins to win and takes too much attention away from that gestapo superintendant who runs that system. The kids at Pike county deserve a great coach like Stephenson. What they don't deserve is an administration who runs the institution through threats and intimidation, even if they have to lie to destroy a persons reputation. Good Luck to Coach Stephenson and his Staff. The kids in Brundidge are the greatest and deserve nothing but the best! Maybe one day they will have leadership at the top that is both competent and moral!!!!!!
Posted by pchsalum (anonymous) on February 17, 2009 at 7:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It was good hearing from my daughter also that the new staff members were on campus and at the baseball game and softball field this afternoon. I pray that the Athletic Director will support basketball, baseball and softball also. Thanks subteachone for your input on the coach as well. The children in Brundidge do deserve the best.
I must add that it is sad that most children from Brundidge are playing recreation sports in the city of Troy instead of Brundidge. We have had people who really wanted to work with the children during the summer, but they were run off!!! We really need to support our own. When we support children in recreational activities at an early age they turn into really good high school players.
Posted by mnascone (anonymous) on February 17, 2009 at 8:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just wanted to clear something up.
This is Matt and I would just like to say that the lead of the article is explained in the second sentence:
"Eddie Stephenson is coming back to Pike County, but this time he is staying for good.
Stephenson, the Citronelle head football coach who guided the Wildcats to a 3-0 first-round upset of the Charles Henderson Trojans last year..."
Thank you for all the feedback and have a great day.
Posted by turtle (anonymous) on February 18, 2009 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That is sad pchsalum. Brundidge had been steadily building their rec department and had a good baseball season last year and football this year. My daughter is too old for the rec cheer program otherwise she would have done that. Last year when I asked about softball, the person in charge told me to take her to Troy because they just didn't have enough girls interested so they were sending those who were to Troy. Needless to say, we didn't do that because I don't have the patience for many of the parents involved in Troy softball/baseball through the rec league.
Thanks Mama Nay for your words about Coach Stephenson. I'm glad to know our kids will have a man like him working with them. He sounds like a good man.
I read an article in the Dothan Eagle that was a bit more in-depth than this one, and his comments really let me know we are getting a good man.
Posted by bet72289 (anonymous) on February 18, 2009 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I pray that Coach Holland will remain the head baseball caoch next season. he has a strong program with a team that has been playing together for the better part of 4 years and show alot of promise. He also has a good JV team that if they stay together can be great.
Also i encourage all girls who are interested in youth softball to go play in troy. they have a great program that teaches the skills that the girls will need if they choose to play at the high school level. my sister and some of her freinds play there and they love it . They really seem to enjoy theirselves and they are learning a lot.
Posted by pchsalum (anonymous) on February 18, 2009 at 2:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
bet72289, I agree that Coach Fred Holland has has a good team this year. He really needs to coach that team in the years to come. The guys will continue to play for Coach Holland.
I also agree that Troy Recreation Department has an excellent program for boys and girls. My children have been playing in Troy for several years now.
Posted by pchsalum (anonymous) on February 18, 2009 at 2:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Coach Holland has years of experience as a PCHS player himself, played baseball in college and came back to Brundidge to be their head coach. What better person to coach baseball. The girls softball team has potential this year also.
Posted by bet72289 (anonymous) on February 18, 2009 at 2:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I played for coach Holland for six years and hes the most influential coach i have ever had... playing for him is the highlight of my highschool experience and i have freinds that are still on his team. These kids love to play for him and they work hard for him!!!
Posted by turtle (anonymous) on February 18, 2009 at 4:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am so glad to see such a large team this year in baseball. I think they are going to have a great season. I don't disagree Troy Rec has great programs and people, but I just can't handle parents who behave like million dollar contracts on the line and don't allow the kids to enjoy the games. It is worse with baseball/softball than the other activities. I think our softball team has come together nicely. We've got young girls but they have grown ALOT just in the past month.
Posted by bet72289 (anonymous) on February 19, 2009 at 7:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah some parents do take it over the top but it is a very small group. and I cant wait for the varsity to play today should be a good showing
Posted by turtle (anonymous) on February 19, 2009 at 8 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope the varsity does well. Also I encourage everyone to come out and watch the basketball game at 4:30 at TROY if not at the baseball game. PCHS lost a student last night who was a football player, and also member of the basketball team, Jarred "Bubba" Snell. Our school and kids need all the support we can give them right now.
Posted by auburnfan (anonymous) on February 19, 2009 at 8:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
TURTLE:
I have heard nothing about this what happened to Jarred?
Posted by bythebook (anonymous) on February 19, 2009 at 9 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, unfortunately auburnfan this is true. Jarred passed away last night due to a medical condition. The full story is not out, but he had heart problems. This is really sad for PCHS and the community. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and to his friends at PCHS. The administration is responding well to the situation, but we all need to pray for them. It has not been decided if PCHS will play at 4:30 today or not. This happened around 11:00 pm.
Posted by turtle (anonymous) on February 19, 2009 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Can they reschedule it? With it being a playoff game and today is the last day of games how would they do that? I do know the other sports had already cancelled practice (softball) and the varsity baseball game was cancelled so they could go to the basketball game and support each other. If anything positive can come from such a tragedy it is the fact that these kids will pull together and support one another through this. PCHS has an excellent administration, staff, and we have amazing kids who will support one another regardless of differences.
Posted by troyfan08 (anonymous) on February 19, 2009 at 12:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They will play today at 4:30...please come out a support them and remember and honor Bubba
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