By BY BRUCE HIXON – sports editor
Tradition and community support were two of the biggest things that attracted Chris Baxter to the T.R. Miller Tigers football program, but he added there is one thing that stands above the rest.
Baxter enters the T.R. Miller program as the Tigers' defensive coordinator. He succeeds Marc Edge in that role, as Edge is sliding into the assistant head coach position.
Ironically Edge and Baxter have a previous connection. Both coached together for three seasons at Robert E. Lee High School.
Baxter's coaching tenure at Robert E. Lee lasted 10 years, which included stints as that program's defensive coordinator, special teams coach and head coach. Baxter then went to Central-Coosa and spent one season at that school as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. Baxter spent last year at Beauregard as assistant head coach.
Baxter is now one of four T.R. Miller assistant coaches on Jamie Riggs' staff who have head coaching experience. Edge (Daleville), Eddie Brundidge (Jackson) and Daniel Wilson (Sparta Academy) have also had head coaching stints.
Riggs said Baxter, who is a 1990 graduate of Robert E. Lee, is making a smooth transition to the T.R. Miller program.
While Baxter is still in the process of learning who is who, he said the summer is giving him a good opportunity to learn about the T.R. Miller system and its players.
Baxter said his defensive scheme is a team concept.
Baxter said the players are making his move to Brewton a smooth one.