Just days before new W.S. Neal High School Eagle head football coach and athletic director Doug Hoehn was set to be on the campus in East Brewton full-time, rumors were circulating Monday that the coach was not taking the job.

But W.S. Neal principal Patty Frazier — who was aware of the rumors — said they were not true.

“I have talked with coach Hoehn three times today and just got off the phone with him 15 minutes ago,” Frazier said. “He is still planning on being the coach and will be in town late Tuesday night and start Wednesday is what he told me.”

In an interview Dec. 17, Hoehn said he is looking for improvement on the W.S. Neal football team next year.

Hoehn, 47, was most recently the head varsity football coach at Hattiesburg High School in Hattiesburg, Miss., before resigning from that post  after being selected for the W.S. Neal job.

“I think what interested me in the job was when I came down here and met the folks,” Hoehn said. “I met the folks on the search committee, the superintendent, the assistant superintendent, Mrs. Frazier and just had a good feeling about the place. I went home and talked to my wife about it and came back again and looked at the area and when they offered the job, I was excited to take it. Just mainly it was the good feeling I had and felt like it would be a good place to be.”

Hoehn will replace Kevin Jordan, who resigned after an 0-10 season.

Hoehn coached at Hattiesburg for five years, compiling a 32-28 record at the school, which was both 5A and 6A during his tenure. The school had not won a playoff game for six years prior to his arrival.

Hoehn’s record was 4-7 this past year, a rebuilding year for Hattiesburg, which started 12 sophomores and one freshman in 2010.

Hoehn’s overall record is 73-55 in 11 seasons, with seven playoff appearances and one state championship appearance in 2000 with the 2A Potomac School.