Rebels hire Latham as football coach

VALE ' Mark Latham has been itching to get back to high school football. He got his chance this week. West Lincoln on Thursday announced the hiring of Latham as its head football coach. The Cleveland County native and former East Gaston head coach will look to rebuild a program that has struggled for years. Latham, East Gaston's head coach from 2002 to 2004, comes to West Lincoln from Polk County Middle School, where he was athletic director the past three years. 'It's just something that I've missed and really eager to get back to,' Latham said. Latham, 42, hopes to stage a turnaround at West Lincoln similar to the one he pulled at East Gaston, where he led the Warriors to one playoff win each in 2003 and 2004. The playoff victory in 2003 marked the school's first since 1978. He finished with a 22-16 record. West Lincoln has never won a playoff game and didn't qualify for the postseason until 2005. The Rebels have posted only 10 winning seasons since the school opened in 1962 and haven't done so since 1986. But Latham promised never to talk about the past with his new players. 'One thing I talked to the kids today about was perception, pride and expectations,' Latham said. '' I think the kids have got to be proud to be part of the program.' Latham replaces Mark Hoover, who resigned after two seasons and a 5-18 record, including a 1-10 mark last season. The school received between 18 and 22 applications for the job. Latham becomes the Rebels' fifth coach in eight seasons. After Harold Warren finished a 12-year stint in 2001, Butch Parker coached from 2002 to 2004, Randall Gusler coached in 2005 and Hoover coached the past two seasons. 'Out of all our applicants, his resume stood out above the rest,' West Lincoln principal Matt Stover said. 'The biggest thing that probably stood out for me was he was the state PE teacher of the year in 1999.' The Lincoln County school board approved Latham's hiring Wednesday night. He met about 100 of his new football players Thursday afternoon. 'There seemed to be a lot of excitement in there,' Latham said. 'Everybody was really attentive and seemed real eager to get started.' Latham will begin at West Lincoln as a physical education teacher on March 3. He will continue to reside in Boiling Springs and will face a 30-minute commute to West Lincoln. Latham, a 1983 Shelby High graduate, began his coaching career at Crest, where he served as an assistant from 1994 to 2000, including as defensive coordinator his final two seasons. He then became defensive coordinator at Kings Mountain in 2001 before taking the head job at East Gaston. You can reach Phillip Gardner at 704-869-1843.