By By BRUCE HIXON – Sports Editor
W.S. Neal assistant football coach Mitchell Turberville is proving you can go home again.
The Blue Eagles running backs coach is leaving Coach Blaine Hathcock's staff to become the head football and baseball coach at Monroe Academy. Turberville is originally from Monroeville and graduated from Monroe Academy in 1992.
Prior to his arrival at W.S. Neal last fall, Turberville had coaching stints at Central-Coosa where he served as quarterbacks coach, at Smiths Station where he was head junior high coach and at Jackson Academy where he was offensive coordinator.
Monroe Academy, an Alabama Independent School Association member, went 3-7 this past season under Joe Nettles' direction.
Monroe Academy is at the small end of AISA Class 3A in terms of enrollment.
Turberville said there are some noticeable football differences between what he experienced at W.S. Neal and what he will experience next season at Monroe Academy.
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more younger kids and most of the players have to go both ways. Coaching staffs are also usually a lot smaller. Right now I've probably only got two assistant coaches. Of course, a lot of that is there aren't as many kids,” Turberville said.
This past winter Turberville served as junior varsity basketball coach for W.S. Neal High School and head coach Robbie Grace. The JV Blue Eagles went 15-5 under Turberville's guidance.
Turberville indicated he is looking as much to coaching baseball at Monroe Academy as he is football.
While disappointed to see his assistant leave, Hathcock is supportive of Turberville's decision.