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Cantrell (right) with WTLS radio host Grahm Dunn

Panthers hire new football coach

By Graham Dunn

New Elmore County head football coach Jordan Cantrell was asked if he had any trouble leaving his native home of Athens and Limestone County to take the job with the Panthers.

His answer left little doubt.

“I spent elementary years with my family in the West Indies so I’m used to change,” he said. “We lived in a third world country with my dad being a missionary so we’ve been around.

"We played cricket (in West Indies) and I didn't know football would be a part of my life. I would tell you I would be a cricket player but they don't play that here."

Cantrell was officially hired on Thursday with the approval of the Elmore County Board of Education making the announcement.  He is just the fifth coach for the Panthers’ football program since 1962.

“We wanted the most qualified person, looking for the right fit,” stated ECHS principal and coach Wes Rogers. “We are a blue-collar family-type community and he has those characteristics. When he came in to the interview, we felt very good about him and we started what I would call courting each other. He fits what we were looking for in someone who has a family, and cares about his players. Based on our talks with him, he is an outstanding person.”

Cantrell spent four years as the head football coach at East Limestone where he led the Wildcats to consecutive playoff berths in his final three years.  The teams combined for a 25-20 record including a 10-2 finish in 2016.

He got his start in coaching spending seven years as an assistant at West Limestone under David Arnsparger.

Ironically, Cantrell grew up in Athens and went to school at the Wildcats’ biggest rival, East Limestone. 

But the rivalries in the River Region are a big part of what attracted him and his family to the area.

“Football is big in Limestone but is even bigger down here,” Cantrell admitted. “I didn't know the extent at first but that was something I noticed about this area and knowing how strong football and the rivalries are here, it made the challenge greater but as a coach, you have to like that. 

“This is a life change for us. When we came down, my wife was with me, we knew it would be for the long haul. We spent time here and toured the school for 3 ½ hours and we said let's go in with an open mind.  When we left, she said, this is it.” 

Cantrell succeeds Norman Dean, who stepped down after last season. Dean spent 13 seasons in Eclectic at the helm and compiled a 77-64 record. The Panthers failed to make the post-season the past six years.

“It’s no secret that the head football coach is the face of the school, with the way football is here,” Rogers said. “We have had a great tradition here and everyone knows Norman Dean is a good, personal friend of mine. But we’ve spent a lot of time on finding the right coach to lead our program and we believe Jordan will do a great job of leading our young men.”

Elmore County opens next season on Aug. 31 at Marbury and plays its first home game the following Friday, Sept. 7, against Leeds.

On Fri, Feb 2, 2018 at 2:33 PM, Graham Dunn <riverregionsports@gmail.com> wrote:
New Elmore County head football coach Jordan Cantrell was asked if he had any trouble leaving his native home of Athens and Limestone County to take the job with the Panthers.

His answer left little doubt.

“I spent elementary years with my family in the West Indies so I’m used to change,” he said. “We lived in a third world country with my dad being a missionary so we’ve been around.”

Cantrell was officially hired on Thursday with the approval of the Elmore County Board of Education making the announcement.  He is just the fifth coach for the Panthers’ football program since 1962.

“We wanted the most qualified person, looking for the right fit,” stated ECHS principal and coach Wes Rogers. “We are a blue-collar family-type community. When he came in to the interview, we felt very good about him. He fits what we were looking for in someone who has a family, and cares about his players. Based on our talks with him, he is an outstanding person.”

Cantrell spent four years as the head football coach at East Limestone where he led the Wildcats to consecutive playoff berths in his final three years.  The teams combined for a 25-20 record including a 10-2 finish in 2016.

He got his start in coaching spending seven years as an assistant at West Limestone under David Arnsparger.

Ironically, Cantrell grew up in Athens and went to school at the Wildcats’ biggest rival, East Limestone.

But the rivalries in the River Region are a big part of what attracted him and his family to the area.

“Football is big in Limestone but here is even bigger,” Cantrell admitted. “That was something I noticed about this area and knowing how strong football is here, it made the challenge greater but as a coach, you have to like that.

“This is a life change for us. When we came down, my wife was with me, we knew it would be for the long haul. We spent time here and toured the school for 3 ½ hours and were treated so wonderfully by the people here.  It was a good place to settle down and my wife said this was it.”

Cantrell succeeds Norman Dean, who stepped down after last season. Dean spent 13 seasons in Eclectic at the helm and compiled a 77-64 record. The Panthers failed to make the post-season the past six years.

“It’s no secret that the head football coach is the face of the school, with the way football is here,” Rogers said. “We have had a great tradition here and everyone knows Norman Dean is a good, personal friend of mine. But we’ve spent a lot of time on finding the right coach to lead our program and we believe Jordan will do a great job of leading our young men.”

Elmore County opens the season on Aug. 31 at Marbury and plays its first home game the following Friday, Sept. 7, against Leeds.

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