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James Phillips is the new football coach at Andrews.
Veteran Swain County assistant coach James Phillips is returning to his roots in Smoky Mountain Conference football.
The 1996 Andrews graduate is the Wildcats’ new head coach, it was announced Friday.
Phillips has been an assistant with the Maroon Devils for 16 years, a time during which they have won three state championships (2001, 2004 and 2011). He specialized in coaching the offensive and defensive lines.
“This is a real home run for us,” Andrews athletic director Lance Bristol said.
“We’re excited to say the least. I think it’s one of the biggest days for Andrews athletics in the past 50 years that a guy like this agrees to come here.”
Phillips is currently the Principal at Swain County West Elementary and will leave that administrative position to join the Cherokee County school system.
He replaces former Andrews coach Avery Cutshaw, who was fired on March 2 after going 15-33 in four seasons, including a 6-7 mark last fall. The Wildcats reached the second round of the 2015 NCHSAA 1-A playoffs after a 26-14 win over Cherokee on Nov. 13.
Six other Western North Carolina football programs have changed coaches since the season ended in December. The new coaches are Asheville High (David Burdette), Hayesville (Kenneth Dockery), McDowell (Andy Morgan), North Henderson (Justin Clark), Roberson (Jason Dinwiddie) and Smoky Mountain (Chris Brookshire).
Madison has not yet named a replacement for Mark Gosnell, who stepped down in late-February.
NCHSAA teams can begin official practice on Aug. 1 and play their first game on Aug. 19.
More on this story to come….
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