E.A. Sports Today

PV close on a coach

Raiders down to 3 finalists, head coach could be named Thursday

By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today

The search for Pleasant Valley’s next head football coach is down to three and the successful candidate could be introduced later this week.

Pleasant Valley principal Mark Proper said Tuesday he hoped the new coach could be approved and introduced at Thursday’s Calhoun County Board of Education meeting.

Proper declined to identify the finalists except to say they were from within the state. Ragland coach Jonathan Nix is believed to be a leading candidate; attempts to reach Nix Tuesday were unsuccessful.

Nix has gone 30-5 in three seasons with the Purple Devils. He was 7-13 in three seasons at Ashville in his previous head coaching stint.

The opening is said to have created wide-spread interest. Proper declined to attach a number to the volume of applications he received, but sources have placed it at more than 70.

Community interaction is said to be a major element of the job.

“We’ve had several great candidates apply,” Proper said. “I’m excited about the possibility of all of the candidates we’ve interviewed.”

The successful candidate will succeed Jeff Davis, who resigned in January after guiding the Raiders in 10 seasons to more wins (35) than the previous 18 seasons combined and three playoff berths. Assistant head coach and boys basketball coach Ronnie Preston is currently serving as interim head coach.

The Raiders are scheduled to play Saks in the Calhoun County Spring Jam at JSU Stadium in May.

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