Freshman staff shaken up: Warner steps down, Madewell takes over
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“I talked it over with coach Tidwell Saturday morning and told him I would like to step aside as the freshman head coach,” said Warner, who took the reins of the Pioneer freshmen last year. “Coach Tidwell is going to move the freshman team up with the varsity team, and feel like this is a good move for the freshman players.
“The freshman team is a super group of athletes and they deserve better coaching than what I can provide for them. They deserve the opportunity to improve and the only way that can be done is for them to join the varsity team and get the coaching they need.”
Warner, a coach for the last 27 years, cited personal reasons for his decision to leave the program.
“I feel at this point in my life I need to spend more time with my family and it would be for the best interest of the kids,” he said. “I feel the high school football program is headed in the right direction, and I know the varsity coaching staff will provide sound instructions for the kids. I just felt I couldn’t provide the time this team needs right now.”
Varsity coach Chris Madwell will be taking over the freshman program. Madwell is no stranger to the freshman team as he coached the players back in middle school.
“Coach Tidwell asked me Saturday if I would be willing to take over the freshman team. He told me to go home and think it over and on Sunday I called him to let him know I would accept the job,” Madewell said. “It wasn’t a case of coach Warner resigning, he just has several personal reasons for having to leave the team. He has some sickness in his family and he feels he needs to concentrate on those problems right now.”
When asked what he will be trying to accomplish with the freshman team Madwell said he will continue to stress the basics.
“We have to teach the kids the basic fundamentals of the high school offense,” he said. “Coaching at the varsity level, I have a good understanding of what coach Tidwell is running and trying to get across to the kids.
“I have to get our freshman on the same page. Right now I’m basically trying to figure out who can play what position to best benefit the team. This is a good group of kids with a lot of talent and the future of the high school program. We have to get a little discipline in the program and teach these kids how to be winners. Coach Warner has done a good job and now I have to try and take these kids to the next level.”