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Mynatt Minute – Head Coaching Position Search in Full Swing

By Bill Mynatt, Radio Voice of Powell Panther Football

AM 620 WRJZ

PowellFootballRadioVoice@yahoo.com

    With the first phase of the task of hiring a new football coach for the Powell Panthers behind them, Principal Ken Dunlap and Athletic Director Nathan Langlois can move on to the next step.  
    “Thus far - we have advertised the position and established a pool of candidates”, Langlois told me. “We have also narrowed down the existing pool and have determined which can actually be considered based on our allotted and anticipated teaching openings.”
    The position came open when Matt Lowe stepped down during the first week of February.  Lowe had been the Panther head coach for the past 6 seasons, leading his team the state championship game this past December.  
Given that Powell is a very desirable choice for faculty and staff and that there are not normally many teaching openings each year, finding the right fit at Powell High School isn’t as easy as it might be in many other schools.  Teachers tend to stay at Powell, rather than opt for transfers to other Knox County Schools, limiting available openings annually.  
    While privacy laws prevent Powell administrators from identifying candidates by name, I have confirmed that the number of applicants is considerable, not a surprise given the success of the program over the past several seasons.  Those who have applied for the job, according to information I have been able to verify with sources outside of the Powell Administration include at least 3 of the current Powell assistants. The applicants also include, again according sources other than Powell administrators, candidates with head coaching experience, and assistants from Knox, surrounding counties in Tennessee, and out of state applicants.  
So, where does the search go from here?  
    “Next - we will begin scheduling interviews with our narrowed pool, and will begin interviewing candidates at the conclusion of the Basketball Regional Tournaments,” the Panther AD said.  “In the time between - we will begin doing background checks, contacting references, etc.”
    There is no time table on finishing that task, but given the number of applicants, this phase could take several weeks.  
    After all of that is wrapped up, a choice will be made and an offer extended: 
    “Finally - we will make a decision ASAP so that the coach can begin the transitional period and begin to prepare for our upcoming season,”  Langlois added.
    There is no official date scheduled at this time for the beginning of spring practice, but according to current assistants their hope is that a new head coach will be in place prior to the beginning of those spring drills.  In recent years, spring practice at Powell has taken place during the last week of April and the first week of May.  The TSSAA allows each school10 days of spring drills.
    www.PowellPanthersFootball.com will be there when an announcement is made on who will be selected to fill the position.