Former coach Steve Matthews was suspended on April 2 after his arrest for drunken driving and drug possession. To learn about our exceptional academic programs, athletics and student life, please visit us and apply! Former Vol Robert Ayers has been named defensive coordinator at Knoxville Catholic High School. Since 1999, all sources remain confidential. Ayers, who played at Tennessee as a linebacker and defensive end between 2004-08, joined the Fighting Irish's coaching staff in 2020. 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. Mobbs replaces Steve Matthews, who resigned earlier this month after being arrested on drunken driving and drug charges. Severe storms move through East Tennessee. Thats in practice, in every rep, and then hopefully that translates to Friday nights.. Join us live at 3:30 p.m. Matthews, who has served as the head football . Korey Mobbs was named the Irishs coach at a press conference Wednesday afternoon at the Catholic High School gymnasium. 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. who resigned earlier this month after being arrested on drunken driving and drug charges. 18 by Denver in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft. ET. "There is a solid foundation in place at Catholic and I'm excited to grow a winning culture and build the Fighting Irish into a top performer in Division II-AAA.. Former Vol Robert Ayers has been named defensive coordinator at Knoxville Catholic High School. Sompayrac said that the expectations for Catholics upcoming season are not centered on wins or losses. 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. Football Camps Touchdown Club Golf Tournament Program Advertising Corporate Sponsors Fan Zone Staff. Jonathan Rutledge. I saw their eyes as I paced nervously around the locker room and that validated that we made the right decision for our family. While still navigating his new role, learning his roster, getting to know his new coaching staff and getting acclimated with his new city, Mobbs said he is excited about the group of guys he is inheriting. Cokinos worked as an NFL pro personnel scout for the Tennessee Titans from 2003-2007 and was an Arena Football League coach in Washington D.C. (2016-18), New Orleans (2014-15) and Atlanta (2007-14). In 2011, he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in Rutherford County, according to court records. Last season they were 3-7. He didnt rule out retaining some of Matthews former assistants. Since then, he and his staff have hit the ground running. He has compiled an impressive record and his passion and enthusiasm for the game of football is contagious. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. We look forward to coach Mobbs leading the Fighting Irish on and off the field.. Kaden Martin after picking Miami: New Tennessee football staff never contacted me, Seven potential candidates to become Knoxville Catholic football coach, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. We're off to see the Wizard. "Everybody knows Knox Catholic. Knoxville,TN 37923 865.560.0313 Visit our school website Were going to do things with class and were going to do things with commitment and its an honor to pair those three Cs with Knoxville Catholic. I think there's certainly a redemptive quality to bringing Steve back," Sompayrac said, "and, you know, we're confident that he's doing the things that he needs to do to stay in a good place., NEW ASSISTANT COACH AT CATHOLIC:Knoxville Catholic football adds two-time state champion Philip Shadowens as assistant coach, NEW KNOX CATHOLIC COACH:Knoxville Catholic hires Ensworth assistant Dean Cokinos as football coach, "I'm excited to be back," Matthews said. Knoxville Catholic is a special place where students are nurtured and challenged as they grow to become remarkable and faith-filled young adults. Knoxville Catholic will announce its new football coach in a press conference this afternoon. Knoxville Catholic football: Steve Matthews can revive coaching career Were excited about those guys that are on that list., Mobbs wanted to stay as consistent as possible during spring football, retaining a lot of the previous coaching staff with the plan to, make a few additions as they move along.. Knoxville Catholic High School introduced its new football coach last week, ending a three-week search to replace Steve Matthews. "He has a solid understanding of the balance between winning and educating young men and developing lifetime skills. ", 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. The drug possession charge was dismissed and he pled to a lesser charge of reckless endangerment on the DUI, according to online court documents. But in terms of wins and losses, we don't really think of our expectations in that way.. After helping bring his younger teammates along during his nine-year NFL career, Robert Ayers decided coaching was in his future. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - The Knoxville Catholic head football coach, Stephen Matthews was arrested and charged with driving under the influence and drug possession Thursday. 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. Mobbs was born in Chattanooga but was raised in the Atlanta area where he held his previous position as the head football coach at Lanier High School. Prior to Eagleton, he coached at William Blount for seven seasons. 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. VFL Troy Fleming added to Knoxville Catholic's staff Teams SEC Alabama Arkansas Auburn Florida Georgia LSU Texas A&M ACC Clemson UNC Big Ten Michigan Michigan St. Nebraska Ohio St. Penn St.. He's getting that chance at . Knoxville Catholic announces new head football coach | wbir.com TSSAA football: Knoxville Catholic adds Philip Shadowens as assistant All rights reserved. . 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. 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. Last season, Shadowens coached his one season at Eagleton College and Career Academy, which opened in August 2021. "It's a . By Grant Ramey Jun 13, 2020. Please check your email for a confirmation. Robert Ayers named defensive coordinator at Knoxville Catholic "I don't know him real well," Matthews said of Baron. His overall regular season coaching record is 165-86-1 with an 11-6 post-season record and two Arena Football League championships. Example video title will go here for this video. He has been married to his wife, Mary, for 16 years. He was also an assistant coach at the college level at UMass, Austin Peay and West Alabama. Coach Cokinos brings a wealth of football . TSSAA football: Knoxville Catholic announces new football coach 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 . Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, THP: driver leaves scene of hit-and-run on I-40, CAT scan: Pet goes through X-ray machine at Virginia, Will Tennessee pass any cannabis legislation this, VIDEO: Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison, Largest supplier of skilled mechanical labor at your, 3rd annual hot wing challenge bringing the heat, Receive training that helps keep you safe, East Tennessee Mopars Car Club gears up for Man Show, Family honors late son through hat and apparel line, Free-throw accuracy sends Tennessee past Kentucky, Vol basketball star point guard suffers torn ACL, Arrest warrants issued for projected NFL draft pick. He said that Eagleton is a special place and that it was difficult to tell his players on Wednesday of his departure. Philip Shadowens confirmed to Knox News that he will be an assistant . 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. 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. Ketia Daniel, founder of BHM Cleaning Co., is BestReviews cleaning expert. Longest tenured coach in UT history to be inducted into Greater Knoxville Area Sports Hall of Fame. Newly-hired Catholic head coach Korey Mobbs named Ayers the Fighting Irishs defensive coordinator. Ayers totaled 257 tackles, 35 sacks, 14 pass deflections, eight forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one defensive touchdown during his NFL career. Were happy to be here. He also earned Region 8-AAAAA Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2015. 9. 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. Robert Ayers Joins Knoxville Catholic Football Staff, Robert Ayers Joins Knoxville Catholic Staff. So thats what weve talked about with the staff, and thats what weve started over the last eight days. "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. . We obviously talked with a lot of people and met with Steve and sat down with Steve's wife as well and talked with them and talked with his pastor, Sompayrac said. A special, special place, special people at Knox Catholic and so that's why I made that decision. While coaching, he also served as general manager in Atlanta and D.C. and director of football operations in New Orleans. "Kids will have fun, kids will get better and kids will compete and really I think that's what our expectation is. This page will be updated with the livestream below. In those eight seasons, he had a 74-27 record. Mobbs has coached for 16 years and has a 58-22 record as a head coach. Before his opportunities in the Arena Football League, he coached in the German Football League for nine years, starting in 1994. Mobbs comes to Catholic from Lanier High School in Sugar Hill, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. Former coach Steve Matthews resigned on April 5 after an arrest on DUI and drug charges. By Dan McWilliams. eight days but says he feels right at home on the practice field. He started his career at Smyrna in 1994, leading the Bulldogs to Class 5A state championships in 2006 and 2007. Assistant Coach (Special Teams, Inside Receivers) . After finding its new football coach in Dean Cokinos, Knoxville Catholic has added a state championship coach to its staff. High School Scoop - Thursday March 2, 2023 - Footballscoop He started his career as an assistant coach for Collins Hill High School in Suwannee, Georgia. Our student-athletes are fortunate to have him as their head coach. pic.twitter.com/9ZLtApgUn6. {{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. Former Vol Marlon Walls and Powell set for 2022 season. Knoxville Catholic hires Ensworth assistant Dean Cokinos as football coach, After 'exhaustive' search, Oak Ridge football hires state championship coach Derek Rang, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Korey Mobbs named Catholic football coach - The Knoxville Focus Eagleton will be in its first season of TSSAA region play this season. The high school named Korey Mobbs as its next football coach on Wednesday. Robert Ayers Returns to Knoxville, Set to Join Local-Area Knoxville We want to act like a family, said Mobbs. 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. Knoxville Catholic tabs Korey Mobbs as new football coach Troy Fleming added to Knoxville Catholic's staff - Vols Wire Matthews . "We're very excited to that Korey Mobbs is coming to Catholic High. 7 overall pick in 2020 NFL Draft Derrick Brown, as well as 70 college football signees at the Class 6A school. 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. Print. Coaching Staff - Catholic Catholic . If Catholic does succeed in putting points on the . He resigned three days later. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. He served as defensive line coach under then-head coach Steve Matthews. Home - Knoxville Catholic High School The introductory press conference took place inside the school's gym with . In eight seasons of varsity football Mobbs helped develop three All-Americans, including the No. Knoxville Catholic football coach Korey Mobbs resigns after two seasons Mobbs helped begin the Lanier High School football program. We look forward to Coach Cokinos leading the Fighting Irish on and off the field. Catholic has won three state championships in its history and two came under Matthews (2015, 2017). Sign up for the Vols Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. However, his Tennessee ties run deep. People talk about winning games but I want to establish championship habits, and if we do that, the other things will take care of themselves.. 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. November 4th, 2021. They play in an unbelievable leagueit just felt like the right time," Mobbs said about taking the job. Were happy to be in Knoxville. Our expectation is we'll be competitive but we'll do things the right way, Sompayrac said. Knoxville Catholic Football Preview: A new chapter begins He never had a winning season with the Governors, and the team finished 1-9 in 2021. Coaches - Character, Class, Commitment Shadowens, who won two state titles at Smyrna, has coached at William Blount and Eagleton while in the Knoxville area. 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. A former University of Tennessee football star and NFL player has been promoted in the local high school coaching ranks. Head Coach Korey Mobbs. It's great football. Lanier won two regional championships, made the Georgia Sweet 16 three years and made six consecutive playoff appearances under Mobbs. Email. Mobbs was recently named the football coach at Jackson County (Georgia). Still windy early on tonight, then calmer with sunshine this Weekend! Last season, Shadowens coached his one season at Eagleton College and Career. Cokinos most recently was the linebackers coach at. https://volswire.usatoday.com/2021/06/03/former-tennessee-vol-vfl-robert-ayers-named-defensive-coordinator-at-knoxville-catholic/, Nation's No. And the Irish lured a successful coach from Georgia to East Tennessee to take over the reins for the Catholic program. "The only hard part of taking a job like that was leaving those kids at Eagleton because they had really bought in and worked their tails off," Shadowens said. Phone: 202-319-4749. Former coach Steve Matthews resigned on April 5 after an arrest on DUI and drug charges. Knoxville Catholic football names Dean Cokinos as next coach Knoxville Catholic football coach suspended following DUI arrest - WVLT-TV Knoxville Catholic High School 9245 Fox Lonas Rd. Ayers's career at Tennessee saw him total 113 tackles, 31.5 for loss, and 9 sacks. Mobbs emphasized what he called the three Cs: character, class and commitment. 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. Mobbs replaces Matthews, who resigned after eight years last month after he was arrested for DUI and drug possession charges. Knoxville Catholic will announce its new football coach in a press conference this afternoon. Matthews returns to the program after resigning in 2021, a day after being arrested on drunken driving and drug possession charges. Cokinos also added two-time state championship coach Philip Shadowens as an assistant. Josh Heupel's 2023 Tennessee football recruiting class has more in-state signees than in recent years, Trevor Duncan: Why I signed with Tennessee football, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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 . 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. 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. Tennessee signed defensive end Tyler Baron and offensive lineman Cooper Mays in the 2020 recruiting cycle, and the local powerhouse has been a national recruiting hotbed for several years, producing the likes of Cade Mays and Amari Rogers. And the Irish lured a successful coach from Georgia to East Tennessee to take over the reins for the Catholic program. We have good coaches, many of whom are here in the building, Mobbs said. Dean Cokinos remains part of Division II-AAA, but is headed east after being named the new Catholic football coach on Thursday. 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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. Ayers, who played at Tennessee as a linebacker and defensive end between 2004-08, joined the Fighting Irishs coaching staff in 2020. 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.". Matthews coached the Irish from 2013-20 and won state championships in 2015 and 2017. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Now, Ayers, a product of Marlboro County HS (SC), will return to Knoxville in a new football role. Others are involved in track and field. Philip Shadowens confirmed to Knox News that he will be an assistant football at Catholic this upcoming season. 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.