By By Paul Keane
Publisher
After a four-year run that featured two playoff teams, Mickey Cannon has stepped down as head football coach at Escambia Academy.
Cannon, who posted a 12-29 records in four years with the Cougars, confirmed Wednesday morning that he was resigning his position.
"I just felt that it was time," he said. "They need someone full time to coach the team, and I was not able to give that commitment with the duties I have with my job at Jeff Davis (Community College).
"I'm going to miss the kids, and I really enjoyed it. I appreciate the opportunity that was given to me by the Academy, and I wish them the best in the future."
EA Athletic Director Chad Prewett said Cannon will be missed, both on a professional and personal level.
"He has been a personal friend of mine, and I looked up to him in the coaching profession," Prewett said. "He instilled discipline and a good work ethic into our program, and I thank him for that.
"But just like Coach Cannon told me one time, the kids are changing. You can't coach them the way you coached them 30 years ago. That means we are going to be looking for someone who can come in here and relate well with the kids and build a strong program for us."
Prewett said he hopes to have a new coach in place by sometime in early January, although he admits a lot of that will depend upon the timetable that the successful candidate has at his current school. Prewett said he definitely wants someone in place well ahead of the start of spring football.
Cannon took the Cougars to the playoffs in first and third years at the helm, then suffered through injuries and a move up to Class 2A this year in falling to 1-9.
Before coming to the academy, Cannon was the head baseball coach at JDCC for six years. He came to JDCC from Escambia County High School, where he started in 1982. During his tenure at ECHS, he was part of the 1983 state championship football team and, as head baseball coach, took the Blue Devils to a state championship in 1989 and a state runner-up showing in 1988.