SouthWest Edgecombe coach

Tarboroviking18

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Mar 24, 2023
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I got to imagine a lot of the Southwest faithful are happy. Far too much talent on that team the last couple of years to have had the losses that they've had. Any idea who may get that position?
 

MoDean

Sophomore
Sep 7, 2018
193
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I got to imagine a lot of the Southwest faithful are happy. Far too much talent on that team the last couple of years to have had the losses that they've had. Any idea who may get that position?
Haven't heard anything on that, Coach Day was the jv coach that only lost one game last year, but he quit teaching late last semester. He still coaches the baseball team, but I can't see him getting the job as the varsity coach without teaching at the school. My guess, would be Coach Hurdle...Its my understanding he was a finalist last time.. Hopefully he's interested again. Who ever it is, I hope they keep the passing and open offense, we have a pretty damn good senior QB that can sling it. And Varnell punked out of even telling his team today. Nash Central can have him.
 
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Tarboroviking18

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Haven't heard anything on that, Coach Day was the jv coach that only lost one game last year, but he quit teaching late last semester. He still coaches the baseball team, but I can't see him getting the job as the varsity coach without teaching at the school. My guess, would be Coach Hurdle...Its my understanding he was a finalist last time.. Hopefully he's interested again. Who ever it is, I hope they keep the passing and open offense, we have a pretty damn good senior QB that can sling it. And Varnell punked out of even telling his team today. Nash Central can have him.
Yeah if I recall correctly hurdle was very interested in the job a few years ago. I'd be surprised if he's not a candidate at least. I do believe your senior QB will have a good year to. I'm surprised @swe98 isn't here celebrating lol. He was definitely very vocal about the previous head coach.
 

swe98

All-Conference
Aug 17, 2010
5,081
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Yeah if I recall correctly hurdle was very interested in the job a few years ago. I'd be surprised if he's not a candidate at least. I do believe your senior QB will have a good year to. I'm surprised @swe98 isn't here celebrating lol. He was definitely very vocal about the previous head coach.
I'm celebrating in silence lol. And that's crazy to say about a coach that just made it to the 4th round of the playoffs, with 2 road upsets in the process. But the fact of the matter is we shouldn't have been on the road in the first place. Bro loved being at or one game over .500.
Anyway, I'm just waiting for the official announcement from the school.
 
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Tarboroviking18

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I'm celebrating in silence lol. And that's crazy to say about a coach that just made it to the 4th round of the playoffs, with 2 road upsets in the process. But the fact of the matter is we shouldn't have been on the road in the first place. Bro loved being at or one game over .500.
Anyway, I'm just waiting for the official announcement from the school.
I had a sneaky suspicion you'd be happy lol. But under his tenure Southwest lost quite a few games that they should not have lost. Far to much talent to be losing the games that they were. I gotta imagine coach hurdle will be a candidate for that position.
 
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swe98

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I'd like to see them bring back former DC Carl Smith.. He hasn't exactly lit it up as the head coach at Person and Corinth Holders, but at least he has victories vs Tarboro as a player and as a staff member. That counts for something around here. Plus, he knows our identity, and wouldn't have us losing to terms that aren't better than us. Being the second best team on the field is one thing. No shame in that. But catching an L as the better team gets old quick.
 
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Tarboroviking18

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I'd like to see them bring back former DC Carl Smith.. He hasn't exactly lit it up as the head coach at Person and Corinth Holders, but at least he has victories vs Tarboro as a player and as a staff member. That counts for something around here. Plus, he knows our identity, and wouldn't have us losing to terms that aren't better than us. Being the second best team on the field is one thing. No shame in that. But catching an L as the better team gets old quick.
From an outsider standpoint, the last couple years it seemed like SWE put all of their energy on beating Tarboro. And when they came up short it, they were never the same afterwards. The post Tarboro game collapse didn't become a thing til the last couple years. What year did Carl Smith leave SWE?
 
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swe98

All-Conference
Aug 17, 2010
5,081
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From an outsider standpoint, the last couple years it seemed like SWE put all of their energy on beating Tarboro. And when they came up short it, they were never the same afterwards. The post Tarboro game collapse didn't become a thing til the last couple years. What year did Carl Smith leave SWE?
Either after 15-16, or 16-17.
 
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MoDean

Sophomore
Sep 7, 2018
193
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From an outsider standpoint, the last couple years it seemed like SWE put all of their energy on beating Tarboro. And when they came up short it, they were never the same afterwards. The post Tarboro game collapse didn't become a thing til the last couple years. What year did Carl Smith leave SWE?
Nothing could be further from the truth... Tarboro has been the only team we've played with a pulse in noncon play for years. After that game conference play starts and are better competition than our first few opponents outside of Tarboro. But if it makes you feel good, call it what you want.
 
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swe98

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Edgecombe County just issued a "special" board of education meeting for tomorrow. Wonder if it has anything to do with a final approval for a new hire. I have no clue. Just throwing it out there.
 
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Tarboroviking18

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Nothing could be further from the truth... Tarboro has been the only team we've played with a pulse in noncon play for years. After that game conference play starts and are better competition than our first few opponents outside of Tarboro. But if it makes you feel good, call it what you want.
I will say whoever the next head coach is will have a great deal of talent. SWE returns a good amount and their JV went 9-1 last year. The talent is there to make multiple deep playoff runs in coming years. I actually do pull for SWE every game. Except one😉
 
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Otis1144

All-American
Jan 30, 2003
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I will say whoever the next head coach is will have a great deal of talent. SWE returns a good amount and their JV went 9-1 last year. The talent is there to make multiple deep playoff runs in coming years. I actually do pull for SWE every game. Except one😉
I enjoy our games with them. They beat us at SWE a few years ago in a game that really hurt. Kicked a friggin field goal right at the end of the game to beat us. But our games have been hard fought and pretty even. We have to be ready for them each year cause it’s certainly not an easy game. Hopefully they will get a good coach and keep it going.
 

MoDean

Sophomore
Sep 7, 2018
193
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Edgecombe County just issued a "special" board of education meeting for tomorrow. Wonder if it has anything to do with a final approval for a new hire. I have no clue. Just throwing it out there.
I don't know if that would go to the board. When does the new board take their seats officially, we just had elections. I also know that some teaching positions are being cut because of the budget or lack there of. I was told the business and civics department will both have one position cut at SW. More likely than not some cuts are coming across the whole county. Oh yeah...I was asked to join the Viking wrestling program as a assistant coach the other day. I respectfully declined due to my job and dislike of canary yellow.😁
 
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Tarboroviking18

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I don't know if that would go to the board. When does the new board take their seats officially, we just had elections. I also know that some teaching positions are being cut because of the budget or lack there of. I was told the business and civics department will both have one position cut at SW. More likely than not some cuts are coming across the whole county. Oh yeah...I was asked to join the Viking wrestling program as a assistant coach the other day. I respectfully declined due to my job and dislike of canary yellow.😁
It's been a few times over the years on this site I thought you may have converted to the purple and gold😂.
 

swe98

All-Conference
Aug 17, 2010
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I don't know if that would go to the board. When does the new board take their seats officially, we just had elections. I also know that some teaching positions are being cut because of the budget or lack there of. I was told the business and civics department will both have one position cut at SW. More likely than not some cuts are coming across the whole county. Oh yeah...I was asked to join the Viking wrestling program as a assistant coach the other day. I respectfully declined due to my job and dislike of canary yellow.😁
It IS a God awful color. Paired with purple, it's actually nauseating. Funny how it doesn't look bad for ECU though. Go figure.
 
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Tarboroviking18

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It IS a God awful color. Paired with purple, it's actually nauseating. Funny how it doesn't look bad for ECU though. Go figure.
Might be a awful color to some, but still 38-12 all time against SWE with those colors😁. Anyway I'd imagine a new head coach will be announced soon. With the season as close as it is to starting that's something that can't take long.
 
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swe98

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Might be a awful color to some, but still 38-12 all time against SWE with those colors😁. Anyway I'd imagine a new head coach will be announced soon. With the season as close as it is to starting that's something that can't take long.

Might be a awful color to some, but still 38-12 all time against SWE with those colors😁. Anyway I'd imagine a new head coach will be announced soon. With the season as close as it is to starting that's something that can't take long.
Honestly, I'm just flabbergasted by that record. It's unbelievable that we've only won 12 times. And that includes a 5 season winning streak in the early 2000s with the elder Cobb. It's crazy. You guys are our rivals, but it's hard to see us being yours. I think we've won only 1 since the 09-10 season. That's just dumb. And more often than not, it's always the closest game of the year for y'all. That hump is the size of a mountain.
 
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Tarboroviking18

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Honestly, I'm just flabbergasted by that record. It's unbelievable that we've only won 12 times. And that includes a 5 season winning streak in the early 2000s with the elder Cobb. It's crazy. You guys are our rivals, but it's hard to see us being yours. I think we've won only 1 since the 09-10 season. That's just dumb. And more often than not, it's always the closest game of the year for y'all. That hump is the size of a mountain.
Tbh it does shock me on occasion that SWE has only won 12 times. I know in the mid 2000s y'all owned the rivalry. Yep last win over Tarboro was in 2015 my sophomore year lol. I know if you ask a lot of older Tarboro fans they'd probably say Rocky Mount is a bigger rival to Tarboro. I'd say most of the staff and players call it a rivalry. But truthfully most are friends. Matter of fact the coaches even had a cookout together the day after the game in 2019.
 
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vikandpirate4christ

All-Conference
Nov 18, 2011
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The right hire can do extremely well here. SWE is always loaded with talent, and again, the right person, who can get the buy in, can do wonders.
 

vikandpirate4christ

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I've heard a few names. They are from this area, and know the area well. Interested in seeing how this unfolds. Also, I cannot remember if it's been posted but SWE Alum, and longtime West Edgecombe coach is taking over at North Edgecombe.
 

swe98

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North Edgecombe has had a rotating door of coaches lately, it seems. I wish they were in 2A, because even though the 1A playoffs have fewer teams, they aren't gonna be able to complete with the open enrollment schools. Problem is, with barley 1A numbers themselves, they'd get run out of 2A too.
 
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Tarboroviking18

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North Edgecombe has had a rotating door of coaches lately, it seems. I wish they were in 2A, because even though the 1A playoffs have fewer teams, they aren't gonna be able to complete with the open enrollment schools. Problem is, with barley 1A numbers themselves, they'd get run out of 2A too.
I will say this, they have a great basketball coach for the boys team. Coach Jonah is one of the best around. It's really sad what's happened to their football program though. Back in the '80s,90s and early 2000s they were legit. They never recovered from Raymond Cobb leaving tbh
 

swe98

All-Conference
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I will say this, they have a great basketball coach for the boys team. Coach Jonah is one of the best around. It's really sad what's happened to their football program though. Back in the '80s,90s and early 2000s they were legit. They never recovered from Raymond Cobb leaving tbh
There's always a debate on whether the coach or the players are more important. When it comes to North Edgecombe, it was definitely the coach. And as soon as he came to SWE, our fortunes turned completely around. He is a great football mind. But I don't have to tell tell about great football minds.
Edgecombe County has been truly blessed with two of the state's football legends.
 
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Tarboroviking18

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There's always a debate on whether the coach or the players are more important. When it comes to North Edgecombe, it was definitely the coach. And as soon as he came to SWE, our fortunes turned completely around. He is a great football mind. But I don't have to tell tell about great football minds.
Edgecombe County has been truly blessed with two of the state's football legends.
Both of whom to my knowledge are still good friends to this day. Craddock is also good friends with Johnathan Cobb. Wonder if some people at SWE have reached to Raymond and his son about returning haha.
 
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swe98

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Man, I've sounded that trumpet several times over the years lol. JC says the money isn't there for him and his growing family. And the time consumption is too much. He wants to be around for his toddler. I get it, but I hate it lol. I know that neither is an issue for Raymond. Thing is, I don't know if he knows any passing plays 🤣. The game has changed a little bit, and you need to be able to sprinkle in a pass once or twice now. Crazy concept around here for sure. But I'd be all in if he returned. Now that I think about it, that's the name I'm going for. Raymond Cobb for coach!
 
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MoDean

Sophomore
Sep 7, 2018
193
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I've heard a few names. They are from this area, and know the area well. Interested in seeing how this unfolds. Also, I cannot remember if it's been posted but SWE Alum, and longtime West Edgecombe coach is taking over at North Edgecombe.
Lee Gold. He was one of the best athletes I've ever seen. Maybe Lee and Cliff Webb (former South Edgecombe coach) could take over. Let Lee run the offense and Cliff coach the defense. I even asked Cliff last year why wouldn't he come coach the defense at SW. I played linebacker in middle school and the man can flat out coach a defense. Cliff runs the game clock for SW home games, he's there anyway, might as well find something more important for him to do. And we should at least get 98 on staff, special teams coach or something. Or he needs to be in the press box telling somebody some adjustments to make because we really struggled with that under Varnell. If plan A was a bust, the route was on.
 

Maddog92

Redshirt
Aug 19, 2025
6
8
2
Man, I've sounded that trumpet several times over the years lol. JC says the money isn't there for him and his growing family. And the time consumption is too much. He wants to be around for his toddler. I get it, but I hate it lol. I know that neither is an issue for Raymond. Thing is, I don't know if he knows any passing plays 🤣. The game has changed a little bit, and you need to be able to sprinkle in a pass once or twice now. Crazy concept around here for sure. But I'd be all in if he returned. Now that I think about it, that's the name I'm going for. Raymond Cobb for coach!
Raymond would pass when needed. Orlando Whitaker had over 5k career yards passing for Raymond.
 

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Tarboroviking18

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Man, I've sounded that trumpet several times over the years lol. JC says the money isn't there for him and his growing family. And the time consumption is too much. He wants to be around for his toddler. I get it, but I hate it lol. I know that neither is an issue for Raymond. Thing is, I don't know if he knows any passing plays 🤣. The game has changed a little bit, and you need to be able to sprinkle in a pass once or twice now. Crazy concept around here for sure. But I'd be all in if he returned. Now that I think about it, that's the name I'm going for. Raymond Cobb for coach!
I know when JC was the head coach, early on in his career he kept the physical smash mouth run game style that SWE was known for. He went spread in 2018 if I recall correctly. That was the Year y'all had that extremely tall wide receiver I forget his name. I was at the JV game last year when they played Tarboro and I feel like Southwest is in the direction of staying in the spread offense.
 

swe98

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And we should at least get 98 on staff, special teams coach or something. Or he needs to be in the press box telling somebody some adjustments to make because we really struggled with that under Varnell.
I'd pay them to let me be on the staff lol. I can't tell you how many times I called entire games play by play correctly from the stands. Varnell's games were very predictable.
 

swe98

All-Conference
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Raymond would pass when needed. Orlando Whitaker had over 5k career yards passing for Raymond.

Looks like it says Whitaker played from 87-89. Cobb's first year as coach was 88, which makes me think that Whitaker already had a bunch of those yards before Cobb, and then Cobb most likely used the same playbook for while he still had Whitaker. No need to change things your first years when you have a competent QB that already knows that system. I bet you no Cobb Sr QB came close to 1,000 yards after his first year as coach lol. I'd love to be educated if I'm wrong.
 

swe98

All-Conference
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I know when JC was the head coach, early on in his career he kept the physical smash mouth run game style that SWE was known for. He went spread in 2018 if I recall correctly. That was the Year y'all had that extremely tall wide receiver I forget his name. I was at the JV game last year when they played Tarboro and I feel like Southwest is in the direction of staying in the spread offense.
Keishon Porter was the receiver. Wasn't a route runner, but he didn't need to be. All he had to do was climb the ladder and high point the ball. We didn't even try to throw him perfect passes. They were high by design.
 
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vikandpirate4christ

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Lee Gold. He was one of the best athletes I've ever seen. Maybe Lee and Cliff Webb (former South Edgecombe coach) could take over. Let Lee run the offense and Cliff coach the defense. I even asked Cliff last year why wouldn't he come coach the defense at SW. I played linebacker in middle school and the man can flat out coach a defense. Cliff runs the game clock for SW home games, he's there anyway, might as well find something more important for him to do. And we should at least get 98 on staff, special teams coach or something. Or he needs to be in the press box telling somebody some adjustments to make because we really struggled with that under Varnell. If plan A was a bust, the route was on.
No doubt about it, he's a tremendous athlete. Even at his age today, he's still a great athlete. I hope he does well!