Langston Wertz has reported that Independence and head coach Mike Natoli have mutually parted ways. I still feel that Indy can be one of the top teams in Charlotte and the state, so it'll be interesting to see what direction the school goes in.
Independence looking for new head football coach
- Thread starter Chris_Hughes
- Start date
Who are some of the top candidates for this job?
Given that the school is parting ways with Natoli, I'm not 100 percent sure if they'll look on staff for the replacement. I know that Brad Van Horn has done a great job as the offensive coordinator.
Some guys who may be worth a look would be;
Sam Greiner: West Charlotte Head Coach
Britt Leggett: Marvin Ridge OL Coach
Orlando Gray: Rocky River Head Coach
Tripp Stone: Butler Defensive Coordinator
Donald Littlejohn: South Point Assistant Head Coach
Jason McManus: Former South Pointe/Spartanburg Offensive Coordinator
David Johnson: Nation Ford OC / Former Cuthbertson Head Coach
Given that the school is parting ways with Natoli, I'm not 100 percent sure if they'll look on staff for the replacement. I know that Brad Van Horn has done a great job as the offensive coordinator.
Some guys who may be worth a look would be;
Sam Greiner: West Charlotte Head Coach
Britt Leggett: Marvin Ridge OL Coach
Orlando Gray: Rocky River Head Coach
Tripp Stone: Butler Defensive Coordinator
Donald Littlejohn: South Point Assistant Head Coach
Jason McManus: Former South Pointe/Spartanburg Offensive Coordinator
David Johnson: Nation Ford OC / Former Cuthbertson Head Coach
I never kid about Coaching News! I'm always spot-on! I dare you to find anyone with their ear to the ground more than I do in this state!!!
Coach Natoli made Indy better!! I hate to see him leave but I understand but Coach Natoli should get another HC job imo
I have not been around the Indy program for several years but everyone I speak with feels the program has underperformed since Evans got pushed out. With the right coach Indy can be very competitive.
I thought Coach Natoli had the program moving in the right direction. But the winds of change have blown several times in Charlotte since Indy was a true power. Not sure they ever get back to that level
Maybe but Natoli made these competitive and they compete for him! Natoli is a player type of coach! Not everyone will like him but one thing I know is he will do anything for his players!
I am a Natoli fan
I think the DC from Vance is a good option.
Indy really is still a gold mine for talent. The area is still littered with football kids but they all relocate right before they enter HS bc parents do not trust Indy. I know 5-10 kids that grew up in the Indy zone in the past 10 years or so that ended up going to Butler creek or Vance and go on to have D1 football careers and some even in the NFL.
Indy really is still a gold mine for talent. The area is still littered with football kids but they all relocate right before they enter HS bc parents do not trust Indy. I know 5-10 kids that grew up in the Indy zone in the past 10 years or so that ended up going to Butler creek or Vance and go on to have D1 football careers and some even in the NFL.
So, I am curious. EVerytime a position opens you post one of these " might be worth a look" lists. Some of these names have been on these lists for 3-4 years now. Is there a reason why these guys never get a look or do they get offered and turn it down because they are waiting for something better?
Is this like the rest of the professional world in that the longer you remain on the " maybe" list it starts to work against you because AD's and Principals assume the reason you havent been a HC is because your not qualified?? It just seems like some of these guys would be easy decisions.
On another note. Looks like Rush Probst is probably available......Any takers??
GHSA bans Valdosta from 2021 playoffs; Rush Propst letting ‘process play out’
In the wake of the latest Rush Propst controversy, the Georgia High School has fined Valdosta High School $5,000 and banned the football team from the 2021 playoffs.
Nobody is in the know more than Chris. He has every high school custodial staff in NC as paid informants and trained ninjas gathering info for him.
The librarians, cafeteria workers, and bus drivers too!
No offense but how are they better? Even if you include the 2016 season, which was a throw away year considering they fired their coach the week of the first game, Indy was 30-20 in the 4 years before Natoli - and again that includes the 2-9 year in 2016. They won 3 playoff games in those years.
In Natoli's 4 years, they were 15-26 with 0 playoff wins and they had to forfeit games at the end of one year.
I just don't see how that is "better"
I edited your post. What I am saying. Is your thoughts on the replacement coaching staff was not appropriate.
Stability ..... Natoli brought in to help bring stability to the program I believe thats why he got hired in the first place.
Maybe there are reasons why he didnt do better but I dont know all the Ins and outs at Indy on what happened and all that.....but I can say Natoli is a GOOD Coach but We debate that all day long but Indy isnt the INDY of old and Idk if they ever will be but Only time will tell
I mean Look how time changed, You had Indy then Butler then MC now Vance seems to be the TOP DOG
A college assistant told me that all of memorabilia from the Knotts days was removed by Nattoli. May have been the AD or someone else. I would think you would embrace past success as in, “it can be done here.”
I mean In a way I see what he was trying to do but again I get how it will piss people off
That's one of those moves that probably seemed cool at the time. Flash forward a couple of years, not so much...lol
Can you say “Matt Doherty”?
Please don't. Former teammate (and his then wife) told me when he was hired, "he does not have the personality to keep the donors happy unless he wins real big." He didn't and he didn't.
Not gonna work...wouldn't say not happen but definitely won't work. From what I hear there's a lot of player parents influence over at Indy...and I'll tell u first hand Hack won't b having that! He's the type of guy that if u feel something say it to his face so if it comes out that parents go back behind his back but never address him personally it will get ugly. He's a very passionate guy that loves his kids and hates riff raff so I'm not saying it would happen but look out if it does.
I also think East Forsyth OC - Ron Horton would be a great candidate for the job too
Whats wrong with that? Sounds like just about every head coach I know that's successful.
Nothing wrong with him... its the fact that would little johnnys mom like that the coach doesn't give a damn how she feels because lil johnny isn't starting. And more importantly will the admin care how she feels...parents pulled a lot of puppet strings over there towards the end.
Sounds like Knotts, Sounds like Palmieri , Sounds like Brand
Could Indy handle that? Of course the true test is the staff he would have around him.
I think the great ones have a F you edge to them. I love Hack's energy, passion and attitude. The kids play out of their mind for him which tells me he has " IT". Does he need to mature a bit?? I think yes...but my guess is they said the same about Knotts, Palmieri and Brand
That's not good. Sometimes young HS coaches get too caught up in the social media drama. Let the fans do the talking. If you can't deal with it it's best you delete your social media. No need losing your job arguing with some idiot who's biggest thing he's ever done in football is finish 3rd in his office Fantasy League.
Its the manufactured persona that is portrayed to the masses that they feel they have to live up to instead of just coaching ball and developing the relationships with the players, family & community. A lot of these guys really want to cherry pick and grab the best opportunity with absolutely zero ability to convince someone to follow which is Leadership. Lets see who of these hot shots that want the high profile jobs put there money were there mouth is......go build something that's not laid out and carve your own path.....my guess is they will not post and say they did LOL
He did not get suspended for anything to do with social media! 100% FALSE!
Brian Frierson, DC at Jack Britt should get a look. What he did with their defense the past few years has been great!
I wonder if they will go for experience or youth with budding potential?
Hope they give a younger proven coordinator a chance. Most go with a HC that has experience unfortunately.
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