TONY STINNETT, Courier Co-Editor
Friday, January 27, 2012 4:30 pm

Joel Schrenk has resigned after three seasons as CCHS football coach.

Cannon County Head Football Coach Joel Schrenk has resigned his position to accept a job in his home state of Alabama.

Schrenk, the 2009 District 8-AA Coach of the Year, informed Cannon County players of his decision during a team meeting Friday afternoon. He will become the head football coach at Falkville High School in Falkville, Ala.

"Coach Schrenk is making a good move and it's a good opportunity for him and his family. It was an opportunity he could not pass up," Cannon County Athletics Director Michael Dodgen said. "Coach Schrenk is from Alabama so it's a good move for their immediate family in that they return home and it's a good move from the standpoint that coach Schrenk will be close to his other family too. I'm happy for him from that standpoint."

Dodgen said Cannon County will begin its search for a new head football coach for the 2012 season Monday.

"It's a process and a (search) committee will be formed," Dodgen said. "That committee will be formed by (Director of Schools) Barbara Parker, (CCHS Principal) Tim Knox and myself. We will try to find the best possible teacher and coach for the position. We want to make sure we get the best person to benefit the football program at Cannon County High School and take it to the next step.

"We want to continue on the right path and be competitive in our region and in the Midstate."

Schrenk coached the Lions for three seasons, posting a 7-24 record. His 2009 Lions won the Region 4-AA championship and earned a spot in the TSSAA Class AA playoffs for the first time since 1995.

Cannon County was 1-9 campaign in 2010 and a vastly young and inexperienced squad was winless in 10 games in 2011. The Lions had only four seniors and started as many as 15 freshmen and sophomores during the 2011 season. Schrenk believed that experience would parlay into success for the team in 2012.