By Johnny Sanders, Sports Editor
PINSON – The new-look Pinson Valley Indians look to improve upon the 6-4 record they posted last year in the lone season with Lee Guess at the helm. Back in January, Guess decided that the balance of home life and being a head coach was not in the best interest of him and his family and he resigned his position with the Indians, committing to stick around and help out until they had found their new head coach.
In February, the Pinson Valley Indians hired Woodlawn head coach Gentrell Eatman to take over for Guess. Eatman is no stranger to Pinson. He coached there under Sam Shade and Patrick Nix, who preceded Guess. Both men earned state championships with Nix winning it back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018 and Shade getting one in 2020. Eatman looks to build on the rich history of Pinson Valley football with the cupboard far from bare.
Guess will remain on the coaching staff in an undisclosed role.
Losing TJ Metcalf and Amare Thomas will definitely hurt as both proved to be Division 1 prospects with Metcalf signing with Arkansas and Thomas signing with Virginia. However, the cupboard is not bear at Pinson.
The transition from Woodlawn back to Pinson was a smooth one for Coach Eatman. “It’s been great. Pinson was good to me when I was here for three seasons before. I didn’t want to leave then, but it was the best decision for me at the time. Player response has been what it always is at Pinson. Come in, get to work. Everyone is flying around out here and we have some standout players on the field.”
So, what should we expect from the new-look Indians this year? “A team that is going to play hard from the opening snap to the last and a team that’s not worried about what people and media say. We just have to take care of us.”
Pinson will begin their 2023 season on August 25 when they host Florence.