SvalleyNow.com — Sequatchie Valley Now

Whitwell has a New Head Football Coach as Stephenson Steps Down

The Whitwell Tigers will have a new football coach moving forward as Rocky Stephenson stepped down on Monday after three seasons. The school made quick work when it came to finding a replacement. Owen Kilgore, a 2008 Whitwell graduate, was named head coach. He had been serving as the team’s defensive coordinator.

Kilgore also has college experience, serving as a student assistant at the University of Tennessee, where he spent three seasons before joining the Jacksonville State staff for eight seasons.

Stephenson stated that he wanted to spend more time with his family. He guided the team to a 4-4 finish in 2021 and a playoff bid in the Covid-19 season. Over the last two seasons under Stephenson, Whitwell finished 8-4 and 9-3, making it to the second round of the TSSAA playoffs each year.

Lucky Knott

Lucky Knott is a longtime broadcaster, sportscaster, and news reporter, having worked in radio here in the Sequatchie Valley and in Coffee and Grundy County for many years. You can hear his news reports weekday mornings and afternoons on The River 104.9 WEPG in Marion County and Country Roads 93.3 in Dunlap/Pikeville. He is also Editor for SValleyNow.com - Sequatchie Valley Now.