E.A. Sports Today

Oxford hires Glencoe’s Ozmint

New assistant expected to bolster Yellow Jackets’ defense, Herring calls the hire a ‘golden opportunity’

By East Alabama Sports Today

OXFORD — Lee Ozmint is trading one set of Yellow Jackets for another.

Oxford football coach Ryan Herring has bolstered his defensive coaching staff by hiring Ozmint, the longtime head coach at Glencoe.

“This is a golden opportunity that just happened,” Herring said. “I’m hoping it’s like some kind of divine providence. I’m about speechless when I think about it.”

Herring wouldn’t rule Ozmint becoming the Yellow Jackets’ defensive coordinator, but he wouldn’t confirm that’s the position either. Darrell Cline is currently Oxford’s defensive coordinator.

“We’re just putting the pieces together; we’ve got plenty of time,” Herring said. “I know he can do either side, let’s figure out the best fit. I could see him in that (DC) role.”

Ozmint is expected to join the program after Christmas. Herring emphasized this wasn’t a replacement hire.

“We’re not letting anybody go,” he said. “He’s an addition — not due to a substraction.”

Ozmint was 77-37 in 10 seasons as Glencoe’s head coach. The Yellow Jackets made playoff appearances in each of the last seven years and reached the 3A state semifinals in 2014.

One of his sons, Thomas, was a senior on the 2014 team and his other son, Pace, was a senior on this year’s team.

“It was just time for me to go,” Ozmint told WBRC.

Oxford went 3-7 this past season, its first losing season on the field since 2005 (the 2007 record was impacted by forfeits), and missed the playoffs for the first time in Herring’s three-year tenure. It allowed 270 points, the first time since 2001 it has given up more points than it scored.

The Yellow Jackets gave up 35 points or more four times.

“This has been an opportunity that came up in the last couple weeks and I’m real excited about it,” Ozmint told WEAC-TV 24. “I think it’s going to be neat to learn form somebody who’s been at a big school, on a big stage, a big environment, and I think it’ll make me a better coach

“Sometimes to step forward you have to step back and that’s what I’m doing, but it’s at a great place, great facilities, great community and I’m fired up to be here.”

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