Neal coach, AD vacancy to be further addressed Friday

The search for a new head football coach and athletic director at W.S. Neal is heating up.

Escambia County Superintendent John Knott said applications will be reviewed in detail beginning this Friday.

“My goal is to have an applicant in mind to be ready to make a recommendation at our February board meeting.”

Knott didn’t give a specific number of submitted applications for the coaching job post, but said “the response has been good.”

Knott said that along with position qualifications, there are some characteristics the school board is looking for in a new coach and athletic director.

“We want someone who will implement a positive culture to carry a football team,” Knott said.

“We want somebody to do good in all our sports programs and we want somebody that’s going to be great in the community.”

The succeeding coach and athletic director at WSN will take over for Doug Hoehn who announced he will take over as head football coach at Alma Bryant beginning Feb. 1.

Hoehn was 33-31 in six seasons with the Eagles.

The Escambia County School Board is also on the hunt for a new head football coach and teacher at Escambia County High School with the departing of Royce Young. Young was 4-26 in his three-year stint with the Blue Devils.