Some old, some new and some moved at Newton Co.
By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
Aug. 6, 2004
DECATUR While many of the same faces will be seen coaching at Newton County High School again this year, some have swapped sports and some newcomers have been added.
Jeff Breland returns for his sixth season as head football coach. His first five teams have won 52 games while losing only 11.
Also back are veteran assistants Mike Spence and Ben Kitchings. Newcomers are Kyle Watson, Jody Hawkins and student coach Curt Blackburn.
In slow-pitch softball, Justin Chaney moves from the football program to take over for 36-year veteran Mack Fanning, who retired following the 2003-04 school year. His assistant will be Steven Harris, who was also with the football program last year.
Newton County has brought in longtime girls basketball coach Willis Tullos to replace Natalie Vance.
Tullos was 224-24 with three state championships at Choctaw Central from 1994-2001. Tullos will also coach girls track.
Johnny Slaughter, the last remaining head coach when the school was founded in the fall of 1990, returns as the boys basketball coach.
Sidney Cook will coach both cross country teams along with the boys soccer squad. Chad Bond will coach girls soccer and tennis. Watson will coach boys track.
Track will be a new sport this spring as the school has a track around its football field but has yet to use it in an official capacity.
Chaney will also be the head coach in fast-pitch softball with Dustin McGee his assistant.
Wyatt Tullos returns as head baseball coach with Harris his assistant.
Kitchings will coach the golf team. Buffy Hale and Kristi Brown will coach the cheerleaders.