By By Adam Robinson
Sports Editor
One day after being approved by the Escambia County Board of Education to be the new head football coach at W.S. Neal High School, Kevin Jordan was at the field house bright and early.
Jordan, the defensive coordinator under former coach Blaine Hathcock, will also be the school’s athletic director. Jordan, who has coached for 13 years at four schools, has been with the Eagles since 2005 after three years at Pell City. He also coached at McAdory and Tallassee, his alma mater.
Hathcock, who was also the school’s boys basketball coach and golf coach, left the Eagles at the end of the school year to take a job as head football job at Haleyville High School and assistant principal at Haleyville Middle School.
W.S. Neal Principal Phillip Ellis said Jordan was the best candidate for the position.
Jordan, 36, said he is excited about his new position.
While Jordan has been coaching for 13 years, this will be his first time as a head coach.
After Jordan joined the Eagles in 2005 with Hathcock, W.S. Neal went 4-6 in their first year, 10-2 in 2006 and 6-5 in 2007. In those two years, the Eagles ended their losing streak to rival T.R. Miller as they posted back-to-back wins.
But in 2008, the team struggled, moving into a new area with teams like B.C. Rain and UMS-Wright.
Jordan said he and the team will be striving to improve.
Jordan said as far as doing some things differently, he would try and do that.
Jordan said he will look for input from his assistants.
Jordan has been responsible for coordinating the Eagle defense in his tenure so far, but now as the head coach, he will be responsible for more than just one side of the ball.
Jordan said he expects the same transition with special teams.
Jordan will also be working to fill some vacant coaching positions.
As far as summer workouts and his duty as the interim during the time of Hathcock leaving, Jordan said his kids have been coming pretty good to summer workouts.
Jordan plans to have staff meetings with his assistants next week.
Currently the Eagles are working out three days a week for about two hours, and they will continue that until the end of July.
Jordan said he has some great coaches on his staff and he is excited to work with them.