After coach Tom Turchetta stepped down early last month, Spring Hill has been searching for the new man to head the Raiders football program. New coach Jay Emmons comes to 1 Raider Lane with 19 years of coaching experience.
Emmons brings a strong defensive background to a team that showed the ability to put up points in bunches last season, but struggled to get the key stop. That struggle would be what would cost the Raiders a postseason berth. Most recently, Emmons was on Brian Rector’s staff as an assistant coach at Centennial. Much of Emmons career has been spent in the Jackson area, first as a player at Lambuth University before becoming an assistant for Vic Wallace at Lambuth. Emmons would later go on to serve as defensive coordinator, special teams coach, and assistant head coach for Rockford University in Illinois. Emmons has also served as defensive coordinator for Jackson Central Merry and Jackson North Side in his career.
Last season, Emmons helped lead the Cougar defense that carried Centennial to a 12-2 record and their first semifinal appearance in school history. The Cougars two losses both came to eventual undefeated state champion Independence.
“I am excited about the chance to be the head coach at Spring Hill High School,” Emmons said. “I have a heard a lot of good things about Spring Hill, and I am looking forward to the opportunity.”
Emmons comes to a program who finished last season at 3-7, missing the playoffs due to their opponents’ combined win-loss record. The season before, the Raiders reached the second round of the playoffs before falling to Pearl-Cohn.
Despite the loss of key seniors, such as Tylin Oden, Zach Frye, and Noah Williams, the cupboard is not bare for the Raiders. With playmakers like Dontae Smith and a wide-open region in the 4A level, Emmons has the chance to take Spring Hill back to the postseason in his first year with the Raiders.
[scroller style=”sc1″ title=”More Spring Hill High School News” title_size=”17″ display=”cats” cats=”100″ number_of_posts=”12″ auto_play=”5000″ speed=”300″]
Coach Emmons are one of the best coaches I have played for. While playing for coach Emmons at Lambuth. I had 150 tackles and 7ints. He was tuff but fair, he made a man out of me and he also was a good role model off the field. Y’all have the right man for the job.