Photo courtesy of Haley’s Photography

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**Jason Johnson Takes the Helm at Andrews High Football**

**ANDREWS –** The Andrews High School varsity football team has a new head coach, and it’s a familiar face around the field. Jason Johnson, the longtime defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the Wildcats, is stepping into the lead role following the recent retirement of Coach James Phillips.

The school didn’t waste any time filling the position—Coach Phillips, who was the longest tenured coach in the Conference at the time, announced his retirement on May 19, and Johnson was tapped to take over shortly after. He’s been with the program since 2009 and brings over a decade of coaching experience at the high school level, plus 15 years of coaching youth football before that.

“I just want to say thank you to Dr. [Sheryl] Rogers for allowing me this opportunity. I want to thank the school board, especially Jeff Tatham—he was a big part of it. And I want to thank Coach Phillips,” Johnson said in an interview with the Cherokee Scout. “I’m excited about it. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Johnson made it clear that he’s not here to overhaul what’s already working—he wants to build on the solid foundation Coach Phillips laid down.

“You know, we have a good program here. Coach Phillips built a great program, and I was able to be a part of that. I’d just like to continue the stuff that he’s done. I’ve learned a lot from him, I’d just like to continue to build on that and get back there and win a conference championship.”

As he steps into this new role just ahead of summer workouts, Johnson’s focus is as much on character development as it is on competition.

He’ll be joined by a few familiar faces—coaches Burch and McLelland will stay on, and Coach Rex Cable is also coming aboard. Johnson also said they’re looking to hire a few more assistants to help round out the staff.

Cherokee County Board of Education member Jeff Tatham had nothing but praise for the new coach, telling the Cherokee Scout, “Jason Johnson is a great football coach, and an even better man. He loves all his players, and they all love him. He is the ideal coach to continue to build upon the program built by Coach Phillips.”

Beyond football, Johnson’s also been involved with the school’s track and field team—just one more way he’s stayed committed to the Andrews student-athletes.

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