Demond McCoy has seen the constant turnover at the top of the Russell County High football program, and he plans to change that trend.
"I don't have any plans on leaving," said McCoy, who was approved by the Russell County Board of Education last month.
"I know we had a had rate of turnover among our coaches," said McCoy, a 1993 graduate of Russell County. "I am invested in Russell County. I want to give back to the school what it gave to me."
McCoy, who has been as assistant coach for the Warriors for the past seven seasons, replaces Tripp Henderson, who left last year with a 5-15 record in two seasons.
The school's principal, Vantreise Davis, said there were a number of reasons McCoy was the right person to lead the Warriors.
"He has a football background, he played at Alabama A&M, he did a wonderful job with the girls basketball program, and he is a product of Russell County High," Davis said.
After Henderson's departure, McCoy, who is also the girls basketball coach, was named the school's interim football coach.
"We had to keep things going, have some kind of structure," McCoy said.
Before returning to Russell County, McCoy spent two seasons as an assistant at Valley. He started his high school coaching career at Lannett, where he stayed three years before leaving for Valley.
McCoy said he has always wanted to be a head coach.
"I have always had a passion, love for the game," he said. "I have always felt that if I was given the opportunity, I could do it. I have worked under a lot of good coaches -- Tim Carter, Woodrow Lowe, Dwight Jones Mitch Hamilton -- and this is my chance to give back.
I want to take what I learned from them and use it here."
McCoy played at Russell County from 1990-93 under Jones. He was a fullback his first three seasons. He also played defensive back his senior season. The 1991 season was the Warriors' first ever trip to the state playoffs.
McCoy faces a difficult task as Russell County has had only 10 winning seasons in its 67 years, the last one coming in 1998.
"I don't see why not," McCoy said when asked if the program was capable of winning on a regular basis. But it is not going to happen overnight."
The Warriors open the season at Central-Phenix City on Aug. 31.
Note: The athletic director's position at Russell County remains open. Matt Hendricks, the school's softball coach who was named the interim athletic director after Henderson left, told the Ledger-Enquirer he had resigned from Russell County to become the assistant softball coach at Central-Phenix City. McCoy says he applied for the athletic director's position. … The girls soccer program has been discontinued at Russell County. Girls who wish to play will be able to join the boys team.
