By By Paul Keane
Publisher
A face familiar to the football program at Escambia County has been named the head coach of the program.
Heath Gibson, who has served as the assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and baseball coach at EA for the past three years, has been promoted to the head coaching post, Athletic Director Chad Prewett said Tuesday morning.
"There's a lot of excitement and buzz going around the school about this announcement," Prewett said. "I told Coach Gibson yesterday that I was glad that we finally got this done because I was glad to have it off me.
"There have been a lot of rumors going around about who was going to be the new coach. I told the kids yesterday that I've heard rumors about people I'd not even talked to about the job. We had a lot of interest in this job, and I've talked to a number of candidates. We're happy to be in a position to promote Coach Gibson to head coach."
Gibson's first and only coaching position has been at Escambia Academy. He played football at W.S. Neal High School in Brewton, where he played quarterback. He placed baseball at Auburn University-Montgomery, where he earned his degree and later began coaching at EA.
In addition, Prewett announced the hiring of Clint Floyd as offensive coordinator. Floyd brings a wealth of more than 30 years experience with him to the position.
Floyd was a coach at Thomasville High when it won some state football championships, and he's coached in Florida and Alabama, including a stint with Northview High School. In addition, Jason Barnett will remain on the staff and Robbie Jaye, a native of Atmore, will serve as defensive coordinator.
Prewett said he was pleased with the moves and the additions to the staff.
"This is a good, positive move for our program," he said. "Coach Gibson works well with the athletes, and many of the kids here love him and respect him.
"Also, to be able to bring in a coach like Coach Floyd with the kind of experience he has is an added plus. We're going to work to put in a system from the PeeWee leagues all the way up through the program and put in a program that will turn things around."