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Former Northview Coach Named New Escambia County High Head Coach
April 8, 2010
Former Northview High School offensive coordinator Mark Heaton has been named the new head football coach at Escambia County High School in Atmore.
Heaton’s appointment was unanimously approved Thursday afternoon by the Escambia County (Ala.) School Board after a short executive session. Heaton was one of seven candidates for the job interviewed by School Superintendent Billy Hines and Assistant Superintendent Randall Little. Escambia County High School Principal Harvey Means was left out of the selection process because his contract was non-renewed in March by the school board.
“I was excited that this opportunity presented itself,” Heaton told NorthEscambia.com. “God really opened the door wide open and kicked me through it. I hope we are going to be blessed and prosper.”
The new Blue Devils head coach believes he can return the program to glory. And he’s not aiming low, setting a goal of state championship, something Escambia County High School has not seen since 1983.
“There’s a lot of deep tradition at Escambia County,” he said. “This is a great time and a great opportunity to build on that tradition.”
Heaton admitted that he will miss J.U. Blacksher where he was 13-9, including a trip to the state playoffs.
“I’m going to miss a lot of those kids,” he said. “I am so proud of them and the program.” He spent early Thursday evening calling his J.U. Blacksher seniors to tell them about his decision to take the Escambia County job. He will meet with the entire team on Friday to announce that he’s leaving.
Heaton’s first day as the new Blue Devils head coach will be April 18.
Heaton is a 1997 graduate of Demopolis (Ala.) High School where he was a student teacher for one year. He then joined the coaching staff at Oglethorpe County High School in Crawford, Georgia under Cody Keene. Two years later, he would eventually follow Keene to Northview High School.
Heaton joined the Northview coaching staff as an offensive coordinator in 2004 under Keene. After four seasons with the Chiefs, Heaton was hired from a field of 28 as head coach at J.U. Blacksher in Uriah, Ala.
He is a 2001 graduate of the University of West Alabama where he played on scholarship as a quarterback and punter.
Heaton’s wife, Betty Heaton, will remain at Northview High School where she currently is the head volleyball coach and teaches reading. The couple lives in Atmore, and they have two preschool daughters, Jae and Payton.
Heaton replaces Kyle Davis at Escambia County High. Davis was fired with a 16-35 record over five seasons.
Pictured top: New Escambia County High School Coach Mark Heaton. Pictured bottom: (L-R) Jay, Betty, Payton and Mark Heaton. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
12 Responses to “Former Northview Coach Named New Escambia County High Head Coach”
We have a great new coach now!! Heaton is making new changes that we needed a LONG TIME AGO! We are now REMEMBER THE BLUE DEVILS!! Lets have a great WINNING SEASON!! We need to let everyone around us know who we are. The Great Blue Devils!
coach heaton i like to be the chain year i did it last year i hope you havea win season this year
Resonding to: Still odd that Billy Hines (and the school board i guess i will say) fired ECHS’s principal because he wouldn’t hire who they wanted him to hire….
“Heaton’s appointment was unanimously approved Thursday afternoon by the Escambia County (Ala.) School Board after a short executive session. Heaton was one of seven candidates for the job interviewed by School Superintendent Billy Hines and Assistant Superintendent Randall Little. Escambia County High School Principal Harvey Means was left out of the selection process because his contract was non-renewed in March by the school board.”
There had to be a reason they didn’t renew his contract and I believe it was after they didn’t renew said contract in which Coach Heaton was approved.
Sounds like you have bitter grapes there. And you don’t loose your job, You “LOSE” your job.
Good luck Coach Heaton may you do very well!
Great hire. If the administration, students, and community will support Coach Heaton, he will definately turn things around at ECHS. I have seen him coach @ Northview and J.U. Blacksher. The kids relate well to him. Again, great hire! Don’t know what’s up with the first post…sounds like his buddy didn’t get hired! Do your homework on Coach Heaton so you won’t get embarrased again.
Still odd that Billy Hines (and the school board i guess i will say) fired ECHS’s principal because he wouldn’t hire who they wanted him to hire….That’s how these small towns are though…The good ole boy system. It’s all in who you know, I’ve seen it too often…If you don’t walk to the old heads tune, then you could loose your job. I wish Escambia County Alabama could get out of the 1940’s and wake up to see that we are in a new century now. Enough of the games and this redneck, cotton picking mentality. Great Job Escambia County School Board, You get an “A” in partiality and “F” in good decision making. Stop firing the qualified and hiring your buddies and their children to teach and coach and the schools would excel academically and athletically as opposed to being two steps short of “F” being schools.
Looks like we might be moveing to atmore go coach heaton looking forward to that winning season……..
Congaulations Coach Heaton!! I know he will do a great job in restoring Escambia County High School back to where it needs to be.
Congratulations Coach Heaton! I know the kids at Northview love and respect you and will miss you!
CONGRATULATIONS Coach Heaton, by the comments posted, your going to be a blessing to this school! Hats off to the board!
I hope the superintendent and board will be as wise in their decision for a new principal as they were in selecting this coach. If given full support, Coach Heaton will be a much needed asset to ECHS.
YES!!!! A coach’s leadership remains active whether he or she is on the field or in public places. Congrats and good luck Coach Heaton. I look forward to seeing God work thu you. Awesome News!!!
YEAH!!!! I AM SOOO EXCITED FOR ATMORE!! WHAT A HUGE BLESSING THIS IS!!!!