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Tommie Lewis Jr. is here to stay.

Principal Latonya Gill announced Lewis as Escambia County High School’s new head football coach and athletic director Thursday.

Lewis’s hire was made official by the Escambia County Board of Education during its regular meeting.

“The best is yet to come,” Lewis said.

Lewis has extensive experience coaching in the college ranks. His coaching stints include as a defensive line coach at Southwestern Oklahoma State; as director of football operations, nickel backs coach, recruiting coordinator and video coordinator at Alcorn State University; as defensive grad assistant and nickel backs coach at the University of Southern MS; as defensive run game coordinator, defensive line coach, recruiting coordinator and specialist coach at Miles College; as defensive line coach, director of football operations and specialists coach at Tuskegee University; and as interim head coach, assistant head coach, defensive coordinator, director of football operations and equipment liaison at Lane College.

He has a bachelor’s degree in physical education, and a master’s degree in athletic administration from Alcorn State.

Lewis said the reason why he became a high school head football coach is because of his children, Kyler, Bri and Tommie III, adding that he wants to watch them grow up.

“This is not a microwave situation. I’ve moved six times in 10 years,” he said. “I’m here to stay.”

Lewis is married to Alexia.