Matt Lowe resigns as Panther head football coach
By Bill Mynatt, Radio Voice of Powell Panther Football on AM 620 WRJZ
PowellFootballRadioVoice@yahoo.com
3 February 2012, 8:05 AM
Citing his need to spend more time with his family, Powell High School head football coach Matt Lowe has resigned his coaching position. Lowe shared the news with his team early this morning.
If ever one was born to coach football at Powell, it was Lowe.
As an all state quarterback/defensive back at Powell, graduating in 1995, he was one of the most productive players ever to take the field for the Panthers. As a player he is still in the top 10 of several statistical categories at Powell, including single season total offense (4th), career total offense (3rd), career rushing yards (7th), career passing yards (2nd), career touchdowns scored (3rd), career passing touchdowns (6th), single season interceptions (T1), and career interceptions (T1).
From Powell Lowe signed a football scholarship with Middle Tennessee State University, where he played wide receiver and was elected as a team captain.
His coaching career began when Lowe was hired at Powell by the head coach for whom he played at Powell, Clark Duncan, in 2002. Lowe remained on the Powell staff during Larry Stephens’ tenure as the Panther leader, and then Lowe himself was named to succeed Stephens as the Panther head coach in 2006.
In his 6 years at the helm of the Panther program, Lowe achieved an overall record of 49-23. His last two teams finished the regular seasons undefeated, earning back to back District 3AAA championships along the way. The 2010 team finished the season 11-1, before being eliminated in the second round of the playoffs.
Lowe’s most recent edition of the Panthers set a school record for wins and winning percentage as it advanced all the way to the Blue Cross Bowl Class 5A Championship game before coming up just short of a perfect season in a heartbreaking 17-14 loss to Henry County. Powell closed out the 2011 season with a 14-1 record, and a state runner up finish.
Lowe plans to continue teaching Wellness at Powell.
While the Panthers lose a total of 23 seniors – with 14 of those seniors starting for Powell in the Blue Cross Bowl game on December 2 - the Panthers will return a solid nucleus of players in 2012 – many of whom played significant roles over that 2011-2012 run that resulted in a combined 25-2 record and the two District 3AAA championships.
As is Knox County School policy, the vacated position must be advertised for a specified period of time before interviews can begin to fill the opening.
PowellPanthersFootball.com will keep you updated as the interview process unfolds and a new coach is hired.
