By By Chandler Myers
Students and faculty at Escambia County High School were left in shock Friday afternoon just hours before school let out for Christmas break as Escambia County Blue Devils head football coach Kyle Davis was relieved of his duties.
Principal Harvey Means and other members of the administration informed Davis, who had been the head coach for the past five years, of the decision.
In an interview Monday morning, Means said the decision was made to move the program in a different direction. He added no decision on a replacement has been made.
Expectations are important for every athletic program, and they seem to be the things leading to this coaching change.
Davis said expectations are different for every principal, but he never had any marked out for him by Means.
With the release of Davis, school administration will not attempt to find a coach that can match or better the success Davis had brought to the Blue Devils.
The success that Davis brought to a Blue Devils program that was in shambles before his arrival includes two playoff appearances, seven players playing college football and a high graduation rate for his athletes.
Davis said he felt he had done a good job of restoring pride to Atmore football.
While Davis is not the head coach at Escambia County High School, he is still employed as a teacher with Escambia County High School.
Davis said as a coach he will miss his players, and if it comes to moving to another school he will miss the city that he now calls home.
As news of the firing spread like wildfire, players found Davis to find out what was going on.
Davis said the one thing that bothers him about the news is the timing.
News even made it to players not at school through word-of-mouth and text messages.
The thoughts and feelings involved all lead to the same question for Blue Devils players. Why?
Devante Brown, senior offensive lineman for the Blue Devils, said he feels bad that Davis is not the head coach anymore.
Brett Wilkins, a junior offensive lineman, said that he wants Davis to do well in whatever he does.
Some players hate the idea of losing Davis and are questioning whether they want to play football as a Blue Devil.
ECHS junior quarterback Rico Stallworth said its hard knowing that Davis is not the head coach, and added he wants to play for Davis wherever he ends up.
Being released from coaching duties might conger up thoughts of what could have been done differently.
Davis said he would not change one thing about the job he has done.
Davis is now looking towards the future to decide on where he wants to go.
He said he might stay in Atmore, and be a teacher or find a coaching job.