Baron, a 6-foot-5, 245-pound junior, is the son of Patrick Abernathy, who has the title of player development on the Vols football coaching staff. The 'quiet UT fan' comes to the Fighting Irish after a successful head-coaching career in Georgia. Newly-hired Catholic head coach Korey Mobbs named Ayers the Fighting Irishs defensive coordinator. 11 hours ago. Coach Mobbs builds programs that personify class and excellence, and his teams compete with relentless energy, Dickie Sompayrac, president of Knoxville Catholic High School, said. After Knoxville Catholic High School introduced Korey Mobbs as its head football coach at a press conference April 28, the new coach said he is looking forward to starting the 2021 season. Doug Samuels. Dean Cokinos remains part of Division II-AAA, but is headed east after being named the new Catholic football coach on Thursday. Vincent and Ellen Sica Endowed Head Coach. Go Irish! Please check your email for a confirmation. Mobbs previously coached at Lanier High school in Georgia. The high school named Korey Mobbs as its next football coach on Wednesday. 2023 www.knoxnews.com. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. He also earned Region 8-AAAAA Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2015. 865.560.0313 | [email protected] KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) Knoxville Catholic is dipping into Atlanta to get its next head football coach. Were going to do things with character. He even has a son named Knox in honor of his late father as the two grew up going to games at Neyland Stadium on Saturdays. Knoxville Catholic finished 7-4 during the 2019 campaign and will look for another return to the state playoffs under Head Coach Steve Matthews in 2020. Knoxville Catholic High School introduced its new football coach last week, ending a three-week search to replace Steve Matthews. He was also an assistant coach at the college level at UMass, Austin Peay and West Alabama. I think when you take a job you have to understand where youre going and what the culture has been, and maybe some changes that need to happen. "This was an opportunity to go into what I think is the best private school around. Mobbs comes to Catholic from Lanier High School in Sugar Hill, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. To learn about our exceptional academic programs, athletics and student life, please visit us and apply! In 2011, he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in Rutherford County, according to court records. 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Ayers will serve as the second former Vol in as many years to assist at Catholic, as Rico McCoy was also on the sidelines last season. In eight seasons of varsity football Mobbs helped develop three All-Americans, including the No. We look forward to Coach Cokinos leading the Fighting Irish on and off the field. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. All rights reserved. At Lanier, Mobbs has been the head coach since 2014. "Knoxville Catholic is a special place and I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the Fighting Irish football program, Cokinos said in a press release. KADEN MARTIN PICKS MIAMI: Kaden Martin after picking Miami: New Tennessee football staff never contacted me, CATHOLIC COACHING SEARCH: Seven potential candidates to become Knoxville Catholic football coach. Before being an assistant coach at Ensworth, he was the special teams coach at Brentwood Academy for a year in 2020. Amidst the coaching change, Mobbs said he has been welcomed with open arms by the team and has not heard any chatter about players transferring out of the program, but will tackle the concern on a case-by-case basis. Cheerleading and Dance Wrestling Basketball Football Volleyball Ice Hockey Show all Sports About School: Knoxville Catholic High School Address: 9245 Fox Lonas Rd Knoxville, TN Mascot: Fighting Irish State Association: Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association Associations Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association Football Camps Touchdown Club Golf Tournament Program Advertising Corporate Sponsors Fan Zone Staff. A former University of Tennessee football star and NFL player has been promoted in the local high school coaching ranks. So thats what weve talked about with the staff, and thats what weve started over the last eight days. Mobbs has only been in Knoxville for eight days Thats in practice, in every rep, and then hopefully that translates to Friday nights.. The introductory press conference took place inside the schools gym with players and coaches in attendance. After finding its new football coach in Dean Cokinos, Knoxville Catholic has added a state championship coach to its staff. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. ", NEW KNOX CATHOLIC COACH:Knoxville Catholic hires Ensworth assistant Dean Cokinos as football coach, NEW OAK RIDGE COACH:After 'exhaustive' search, Oak Ridge football hires state championship coach Derek Rang. I think for Coach Cokinos, whos had head coaching experience but not at the high school level, his (experience) has more been arena football and NFL Europe, Sompayrac said. who resigned earlier this month after being arrested on drunken driving and drug charges. Im just a guy whos been blessed to coach a lot of young men and work with some great parents and great people. "I think just having coaches on your staff with their background and their knowledge is going to be a real asset to coach Cokinos.. Mobbs was recently named the football coach at Jackson County (Georgia). Assistant Coach (Tight Ends) tobiav@cua.edu. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. He also coached a season at Middle Tennessee Christian in 2008 before spending 2009-14 at Blackman, where he coached former Tennessee star and San Francisco 49ers receiver Jauan Jennings. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. To learn more about ChatGPT and how we can inspire students, we sat down with BestReviews book expert, Ciera Pasturel. eight days but says he feels right at home on the practice field. Two-time state championship coach Steve Matthews will be returning to Knoxville Catholic as the football team's offensive coordinator, school president Dickie Sompayrac told Knox News.. Ayers's career at Tennessee saw him total 113 tackles, 31.5 for loss, and 9 sacks. "He has a solid understanding of the balance between winning and educating young men and developing lifetime skills. He replaces Korey Mobbs who resigned as coach in November. Knoxville Catholic head football coach resigns following arrest, Tennessee Football closes out spring season with Orange and White game, Grainger High School baseball player Eli May fights through adversity, returns to the mound. Catholic finished 7-4 during the 2019 campaign and will look for another return to the state playoffs under Head Coach . Catholic . November 4th, 2021. They know that I love them and that I care about them and they handled it like good young men.". Korey Mobbs was named the Irish's coach at a press conference Wednesday [] Last season, Shadowens coached his one season at Eagleton College and Career. 1 prospect Dylan Stewart schedules visit to Tennessee, 2023 NFL scouting combine: Jeremy Banks by the numbers, SEC baseball scores, records after March 1 games, Lady Vols to play Kentucky in SEC Tournament, How the SEC was formed by leaving a 23-team super conference, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Houston Wisdom (TX): Head coach Jacque Tinsley will not return for a seventh season leading the program and assistant coach Vincente Herrera is the new head coach, Matt Stepp tweets. He's getting that chance at . Since then, he and his staff have hit the ground running. Addthis. 0:04 0:49 Dean Cokinos remains part of Division II-AAA, but is headed east after being named the new Catholic football coach on Thursday. Example video title will go here for this video. Sompayrac said the program met with the football players parents about the decision. Author: Matt Ray. Learn more about upcoming championship events and see in-depth history on high school sports in Tennessee. 7 overall pick in 2020 NFL Draft Derrick Brown, as well as 70 college football signees at the Class 6A school. We dont want to talk about being a family. His overall regular season coaching record is 165-86-1 with an 11-6 post-season record and two Arena Football League championships. After helping bring his younger teammates along during his nine-year NFL career, Robert Ayers decided coaching was in his future. Last season they were 3-7. Knoxville Catholic High School 9245 Fox Lonas Rd. He served as their offensive coordinator and assistant head coach, before becoming head coach in 2014. Ketia Daniel, founder of BHM Cleaning Co., is BestReviews cleaning expert. I look forward to meeting them and I look forward to working with our young men. Ive probably met 300 people since Ive been here in Knoxville, but the most important names Ive learned are the ones on our roster, said Mobbs. Philip Shadowens confirmed to Knox News that he will be an assistant football at Catholic this upcoming season. Well continue to evaluate that. https://volswire.usatoday.com/2021/06/03/former-tennessee-vol-vfl-robert-ayers-named-defensive-coordinator-at-knoxville-catholic/, Nation's No. Assistant Coach (Special Teams, Inside Receivers) . Mobbs led the Fighting Irish to the Division II-AAA playoffs both seasons at the helm but finished with an 8-12 combined record. Knoxville Catholic football adds two-time state champion Philip Shadowens as assistant coach, Knoxville Catholic hires Ensworth assistant Dean Cokinos as football coach, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Best smart home devices for older users, according, How to get started on spring cleaning early, according, Worried about your student using ChatGPT for homework? In those eight seasons, he had a 74-27 record. Were excited to welcome Coach Cokinos to Catholic High," said Dickie Sompayrac, President of Knoxville Catholic High School, in a press release. Cokinos most recently was the linebackers coach at Ensworth in Nashville, which finished this past season with a 7-4 record. Robert Ayers played in Knoxville for the Tennessee Volunteers from 2005-2008, and afterward, he was drafted with the 19th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. Knoxville Catholic High School9245 Fox Lonas RoadKnoxville, TN 37923, Copyright 2023 Knoxville Catholic High School.All Rights Reserved. As head coach, Mobbs posted a 58-22 record and won two region championships. When you come to a program as a football coach, you can tell how theyve been coached and what kind of homes they come from by their body language, said Mobbs, who compiled a record of 58-22 as a head coach and won a pair of region championships. Email. 9. Matthews, who has served as the head football . We want them to honor their season, then well worry about that later.. Ayers totaled 257 tackles, 35 sacks, 14 pass deflections, eight forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one defensive touchdown during his NFL career. Knoxville,TN 37923 865.560.0313 Visit our school website He said that Eagleton is a special place and that it was difficult to tell his players on Wednesday of his departure. He started his career as an assistant coach for Collins Hill High School in Suwannee, Georgia. Former coach Steve Matthews was suspended on April 2 after his arrest for drunken driving and drug possession. Since 1999, all sources remain confidential. Today, our campus in the heart of West Knoxville features best-in-class facilities, a distinguished faculty and a steadfast commitment to Catholic education. Knoxville Catholic has been inspiring excellence since 1932, where every student is known, loved and called to greatness. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) Knoxville Catholic is dipping into Atlanta to get its next head football coach. Jonathan Rutledge. KADEN. Ayers Jr. started his coaching career as the defensive line coach at Knoxville Catholic in 2020 and was the defensive coordinator there in 2021 before moving to Oak Ridge, where he was the. Facebook. High School Scoop - Thursday March 2, 2023. He has compiled an impressive record and his passion and enthusiasm for the game of football is contagious. It just feels great to be back and excited to get to work and hopefully get this program to one be one of the top programs in the state.". We have good coaches, many of whom are here in the building, Mobbs said. The Vols do not currently have any 2021 targets at Knoxville Catholic, but 2022 do-it-all athlete Tommy Winton projects to be a key target in his cycle, while Kaden Martin, the son of Tee Martin, is a two-sport star for the Irish. So really, going through spring has been our emphasis, and then as summer approaches, well begin to implement those things. He has been married to his wife, Mary, for 16 years. A month after Korey Mobbs resigned at Knoxville Catholic, the Fighting Irish have found their new football leader. Both coordinators have worked with the Bengals since Zac Taylor became the head coach in 2019 and Anarumo said that continuity "just makes it that much easier" to be successful in their jobs . KNOXVILLE, Tenn. Knoxville Catholic High School named Korey Mobbs as its new head coach back in April. While he embarks on year one at the helm, Mobbs said right now he is approaching the spring by working to win each day as he begins to make his mark on the Catholic program. He served as defensive line coach under then-head coach Steve Matthews. Last season, Shadowens coached his one season at Eagleton College and Career Academy, which opened in August 2021. He said it was tough to leave Georgia and his current job to come to Knoxville because of relationships that he established there, but also noted that Catholic and Knoxville are the right places for his family and him. Korey Mobbs is takes over the Irish program with 16 years of high school coaching experience. "Kids will have fun, kids will get better and kids will compete and really I think that's what our expectation is. {{current_weather.dt | momentjs( atts.date )}}, The Knoxville Focus for February 27, 2023, Treadwell and Underwood: Player and Coach of the Year, Lady Devils come back to nab tournament title in hostile territory, Karns girls go back to work after bowing in district finals, The Knoxville Focus for February 20, 2023, Hot Seymour rolls past ice cold Lady Hornets, Catholic taps Travis Mains to be next girls basketball coach, Knox Catholic beats Oak Ridge, stands one step away from state title game, Local players named Mr. Football Finalists. In the NFL, Ayers played for Denver (2009-13), the New York Giants (2014-15) and Tampa Bay (2016-17). Eagleton has not competed in varsity-level TSSAA sports until the 2023-24 school year and Shadowens has only a team for the freshman and sophomore classes. "It's a . Longest tenured coach in UT history to be inducted into Greater Knoxville Area Sports Hall of Fame. He was selected No. Robert Ayers Joins Knoxville Catholic Football Staff. They play in an unbelievable leagueit just felt like the right time," Mobbs said about taking the job. Were happy to be here. "We're very excited to that Korey Mobbs is coming to Catholic High. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - The Knoxville Catholic head football coach, Stephen Matthews was arrested and charged with driving under the influence and drug possession Thursday. Korey Mobbs was named the Irishs coach at a press conference Wednesday afternoon at the Catholic High School gymnasium. Ayers, who played at Tennessee as a linebacker and defensive end between 2004-08, joined the Fighting Irish's coaching staff in 2020. If Catholic does succeed in putting points on the . This page will be updated with the livestream below. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) Knoxville Catholic High School announced the hiring of Dean Cokinos as the new head football coach for the Fighting Irish. Knoxville Catholic High School has been inspiring young people through the ministry of Christ since 1932. Cokinos also added two-time state championship coach Philip Shadowens as an assistant. After finding its new football coach in Dean Cokinos, Knoxville Catholic has added a state championship coach to its staff. Others are involved in track and field. Coach Mobbs builds programs that personify class and excellence, and his teams compete with relentless energy," school president Dickie Sompayrac said. Phone: 202-319-4749. Coach Mobbs says hes looking forward to developing a relationship beyond football with his players. Its about coaching them really hard but maybe loving them a little harder. Lanier won two regional championships, made the Georgia Sweet 16 three years and made six consecutive playoff appearances under Mobbs. Mobbs replaces Matthews, who resigned after eight years last month after he was arrested for DUI and drug possession charges. "He is highly experienced in football operations, and player development, and he builds programs that personify class and excellence. We want to act like a family, said Mobbs. Mobbs has coached for 16 years and has a 58-22 record as a head coach. RELATED: Knoxville Catholic head football coach resigns following arrest, RELATED: Tennessee Football closes out spring season with Orange and White game, RELATED: Grainger High School baseball player Eli May fights through adversity, returns to the mound. They have three children. We look forward to coach Mobbs leading the Fighting Irish on and off the field.. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Print. Matthews returns to the program after resigning in 2021, a day after being arrested on drunken driving and drug possession charges. To learn more about ChatGPT and how we can inspire students, we sat down with BestReviews book expert, Ciera Pasturel. Were happy to be in Knoxville. Some of them are in and out from a spring practice standpoint. We're off to see the Wizard. Mobbs has only been in Knoxville for eight days but says he feels right at home on the practice field. Before his opportunities in the Arena Football League, he coached in the German Football League for nine years, starting in 1994. Coaching Experience: 2021-2022 Knoxville Catholic High School Head Coach 2014-2020 Lanier High School Head Coach 2 Region Championships Playoff Appearances 2014-2019 GHSA Sweet Sixteen 2015, 2018, 2019 State Semifinals . Mardi Growl to close several roads in downtown Knoxville on Saturday, What you need to know about paying to park in the Great Smoky Mountains. Our expectation is we'll be competitive but we'll do things the right way, Sompayrac said. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. Knoxville Catholic introduced Korey Mobbs as its new head football coach on Wednesday afternoon. Mike Gutelius. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. Knoxville Catholic introduced Korey Mobbs as its new head football coach on Wednesday afternoon. Two-time state championship coach Steve Matthews will be returning to Knoxville Catholic as the football team's offensive coordinator, school president Dickie Sompayrac told Knox News. Its a great day to be Irish., Mobbs won a Georgia State Championship as a player in 1997 and said it was tough to leave Lanier due to the relationships that hed established through the game of football but said I look forward to establishing those same relationships here with the faculty, staff and administration at Knoxville Catholic.. The auditorium, lobby, theatre and stage were officially dedicated on April 25, 2022. After just two seasons at Knoxville Catholic, Korey Mobbs has resigned as head football coach of the Fighting Irish.