Coaches confronted after loss
A post-game incident following Friday night’s loss to Chattanooga Central involved members of the Pioneer coaching staff and the father of one of the team’s senior players.
As head coach Gerald Tidwell and offensive coordinator Mike Lytle were exiting the field, they were stopped by Pioneer Booster Club president Danny Langford, who was reportedly upset because his son, senior linebacker Cole Langford, was pulled from the game by Lytle just before halftime as a disciplinary measure.
While the rest of the fans, players and officials left Nunley Stadium, the Langfords, Tidwell, Lytle, defensive coordinator John Dryden and athletic director Andy Jacobs remained in conversation on the sidelines for several moments before leaving the field.
The parties involved will reportedly continue their discussion of the incident in a meeting at WCHS this week.
When contacted by the Standard Saturday morning, Danny Langford declined to comment on the situation until after it is completely resolved. Tidwell also opted not to discuss the postgame incident, except to say he will support his assistant coach.
“Mike Lytle is doing an outstanding job,” he said. “He’s a fine addition to this coaching staff, and we stand behind him all the way.”