<font color="#FF0000">UPDATE:</font> High hopes for new head coach

Jefferson County High School head football coach Willie Spears will take over as the Bulldogs' new top man, Superintendent of Schools Jerry Scarborough said Tuesday. Spears, 32, accepted the post Saturday and begins work Monday. He will be paid $56,000 a year, Scarborough said.

"To be a part of a winning tradition including four state champions (would) indeed (be) an honor," Spears said in a letter to Scarborough included with his résumé.

Spears coached the Jefferson County Tigers to a district title in 2009, his first season there.

Scarborough said he is pleased to introduce Spears to the community.

"We're excited about coach Spears joining our community and school," he said. "We're going to lay a foundation that's going to be great for future athletes."

Spears said in a letter to Suwannee selection committee members that he "will be committed to stay here and build a program," and would "not use this job as a mere stepping stone."

Spears' résumé shows he has held coaching jobs at five different schools since 2002. His longest tenure was four years. The others were for about a year. The Suwannee job, though, will only be his second as a varsity head football coach.

When contacted Tuesday morning, Spears admitted he had "moved around a lot," but said he and his family "are sick of moving." He added, "I don't know why we can't stay in one place, but that's what's been happening."

Others have raised the same question. Spears discussed the issue recently on coachspears.com, a page on the Jefferson County Athletic Department Web site, under the heading "Spears apologizes for resignation."

Spears told the Democrat that if his stay here does prove brief, "I can guarantee (the program) will be better than before I got there."

Spears replaces Jerry Odom, who left Suwannee after one season to take a job as an assistant coach at Jacksonville University.

Spears began his coaching career in 2002 shortly after playing for the Boise Idaho Stallions in the Indoor Professional Football League and on the Rochester Brigade in the Arena Football League 2. As assistant varsity football coach at Rutherford High School in Panama City, Spears helped lead the Rams to an 11-2 record and sent two players to second team all-state. In 2003 he landed the head coaching job for the JV Rams football team. At Arnold High School in Panama City Beach, Spears wore three coaching hats during a brief stint in 2006: assistant varsity football coach of wide receivers and defensive backs, head girls basketball and head girls track coach.

"For me Suwannee is the job," said Spears. "Suwannee is probably one of the top jobs in the state because of its history."

Spears said he will meet with students at Suwannee High School today. Scarborough said Spears will meet with the Quarterback Club Monday night at 7 p.m.

Spears is married and has two children.

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