Former Carolina Panther Brad Hoover named head football coach at Marvin Ridge

Former Carolina Panther fullback Brad Hoover is the new head football coach at Marvin Ridge.

Hoover will be the school's fourth football coach. Marvin Ridge, which opened in 2007, was 2-9 last season under Danny Bailey, who coached the Mavericks for one season.

Hoover coached last season for Union Academy, a small school also in Union County.  He led Union Academy to a 6-6 record, which tied for the best in school history.

Hoover, a former N.C. Shrine Bowl star in high school, played at Western Carolina. He became the school's No. 2 all-time leading rusher and was later inducted into Western Carolina's Hall of Fame.

Undrafted, Hoover was picked up as a free agent by Carolina in 2000 and became one of the franchise's more popular players during a 9-year career where he played in 149 regular-season or playoff games

Providence Day to "re-retire" the jersey of former UNC great and alumnus Reggie Clark Friday

During halftime of Friday’s game with rival Charlotte Country Day, Providence Day will retire former football star Reggie Clark’s No. 11 jersey. The jersey was retired in 1988, but the number was accidentally used recently.

Clark was all-state in football, basketball and baseball at Providence Day. He was drafted in the second round by Toronto. In football, Clark played running back and free safety. In 1986, he led coach Steve Shaughnessy’s team to a 9-1 record and the school’s first state championship.

Clark rushed for 4,820 career yards before playing football at North Carolina. After he graduated from college, Clark was a free agent pick by the New England Patriots. He played for several NFl teams, including San Diego, Pittsburgh and Jacksonville.

Clark said he was touched by the “re-retirement” of his jersey.

“Now,” he said, “my daughter can look at it hanging in her school and say, ‘Hey, daddy did something important. He did something special.’”

Scott Chadwick named head football coach at Myers Park

Former Marvin Ridge football coach Scott Chadwick has named as the new coach at Myers Park.

Chadwick will replace Scott Stein, who coached the Mustangs for one season. Stein missed part of the season on medical leave. Shon Kendall has been the Mustangs interim head coach. 

Chadwick will take over from Kendall within the next two months.

Chadwick coached at Marvin Ridge from 2008-2012 and had a record of 41-20. His first team was 6-6. His next four all had winning records and his 2011 team set a school record with 10 wins.

Chadwick's teams at Marvin Ridge won three conferences titles and had a cumulative GPA of 3.37.

In 2010, Chadwick was named the Carolina Panthers High School Coach of the year, awarded to an area coach who has achieved excellence on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. 

Chadwick has 15 years of head coaching experience and is a certified Physical Education and Exceptional Children’s teacher.   

Chadwick is Myers Park's fourth head coach in six seasons. The Mustangs were 4-7 in 2013 and have had one winning season since 2005.

Lincoln County Schools to drug test high school athletes beginning in the fall

 Published news reports say that Lincoln County Schools plans to drug test athletes beginning in the 2014-15 school year.

 Parents must sign a waiver allowing for random tests.

There are three levels of offense for failing: a 90-day suspension from sports; a 365-day suspension; a lifetime suspension. The tests will screen for illegal drugs and performance enhancing drugs S

N.C. Prep Basketball State Media Poll

Here are the first polls of the year brought to you by NCPreps.com and a select group of high school sportswriters from all across the state.

1A BOYS
1. Winston-Salem Prep (6) - 10-3 - 86
2. East Carteret (3) - 13-0 - 80
3. Plymouth - 7-0 - 63
4. Cherryville - 13-1 - 51
5. Trask - 13-1 - 48
6. East Surry - 12-2 - 32
7. Albemarle - 11-1 - 31
8. James Kenan - 8-1 - 23
9. Hayesville - 10-2 - 20
10. North Stanly - 11-2 - 19

HONORABLE MENTION: Robbinsville (10-2) - 10; Northside-Pinetown (10-2) - 10; Avery (11-4) - 6; Pamlico (8-3) - 5; Bishop McGuinness (14-3) - 5; Neuse Charter (14-4) - 3; Whiteville (8-2) - 2; Alleghany (10-3) - 1;

2A BOYS
1. Shelby (7) - 13-1 - 88
2. Trinity (1) - 14-0 - 74
3. Kinston (1) - 9-3 - 64
4. Smoky Mountain - 14-0 - 57
5. East Lincoln - 12-1 - 52
6. East Rutherford - 10-3 - 29
7. Cummings - 10-2 - 28
8. Midway - 12-1 - 26
9. Northside-Jax - 11-1 - 22
10. Huss - 10-4 - 11

HONORABLE MENTION: Bunn (11-2) - 9; Northeastern (8-3) - 8; Newton-Conover (10-3) - 7; North Rowan (7-2) - 6; Monroe (4-1) - 4; West Stokes (9-4) - 4; Clinton (10-2) - 3; South Lenoir (10-2) - 2; Holmes (9-1) - 2;

3A BOYS
1. Freedom (5) - 13-0 - 86
2. Weddington (1) - 15-1 - 72
3. Erwin (2) - 13-0 - 71
4. Concord (1) - 11-2 - 58
5. Fike - 13-1 - 46
6. Terry Sanford - 13-2 - 44
7. Orange - 12-2 - 35
8. Lee County - 13-2 - 26
9. Pisgah - 13-2 - 21
10. Hunt - 8-3 - 13

HONORABLE MENTION: Cox Mill (12-4) - 11; Chapel Hill (9-5) - 8; North Buncombe (11-2) - 6; Kings Mountain (11-5) - 3;

4A BOYS
1. Olympic (6) - 14-1 - 81
2. Northern Durham (2) - 13-0 - 60
3. Page (1) - 13-1 - 58
4. North Meck - 13-1 - 52
5. East Forsyth - 13-1 - 45
6. Lake Norman - 11-1 - 27
6. Panther Creek - 13-1 - 27
8. New Hanover - 9-1 - 24
9. Seventy-First - 14-2 - 18
9. Hough - 11-3 - 18

HONORABLE MENTION: Clayton (13-3) - 17; Broughton (11-3) - 17; Mount Tabor (10-4) - 14; E.E. Smith (13-2) - 10; Millbrook (12-3) - 9; West Charlotte (7-4) - 7; Ragsdale (11-3) - 3; SW Guilford (12-3) - 3; Berry Academy (10-2) - 3; NW Guilford (13-2) - 2;


1A GIRLS
1. Bishop McGuinness (5) - 12-2 - 77
2. Riverside-Martin - 14-0 - 75
3. Hayesville (3) - 12-0 - 68
4. Mount Airy (1) - 14-1 - 60
5. Granville Central - 10-0 - 36
6. Cherokee - 11-2 - 34
7. Rosewood - 12-1 - 30
8. Winston-Salem Prep - 10-4 - 28
9. Gates County - 10-1 - 22
10. River Mill Academy - 12-3 - 21

HONORABLE MENTION: Avery (12-3) - 18; Albemarle (11-2) - 10; Franklin Academy (13-2) - 6; Hiwassee Dam (8-3) - 5; South Davidson (10-4) - 4; Atkins (11-4) - 1;

2A GIRLS
1. Bandys (5) - 13-0 - 78
2. Reidsville (1) - 10-0 - 67
3. East Bladen - 14-0 - 56
4. Northside-Jax - 10-0 - 52
4. Bertie (2) - 15-0 - 52
6. Kinston (1) - 9-2 - 41
7. Parkwood - 12-1 - 22
8. East Davidson - 12-2 - 21
9. Franklin - 12-1 - 20
10. Lake Norman Charter - 12-1 - 19

HONORABLE MENTION: North Rowan (10-1) - 18; Thomasville (9-2) - 12; Mountain Heritage (10-2) - 9; East Burke (10-2) - 8; East Duplin (12-2) - 7; North Brunswick (10-3) - 6; Clinton (11-2) - 3; East Rutherford (10-2) - 3; Southern Vance (10-2) - 1;

3A GIRLS
1. Chapel Hill (5) - 14-0 - 85
2. Hickory (4) - 11-0 - 76
3. Northern Nash - 13-1 - 66
4. Pisgah - 14-1 - 56
5. West Craven - 13-1 - 54
6. Williams - 12-1 - 47
7. Anson - 13-1 - 27
8. Northern Guilford - 12-4 - 19
9. Weddington - 13-3 - 18
10. Cardinal Gibbons - 12-3 - 15

HONORABLE MENTION: Asheboro (13-2) - 10; Ledford (12-4) - 9; Crest (11-3) - 7; Union Pines (13-2) - 4; East Rowan (10-3) - 2;

4A GIRLS
1. McDowell (6) - 14-0 - 80
2. Myers Park (2) - 14-1 - 73
3. South View - 14-1 - 56
4. SE Raleigh (1) - 13-2 - 52
5. Southern Alamance - 13-1 - 45
6. Alexander Central - 14-1 - 26
7. Mount Tabor - 12-2 - 22
8. Broughton - 11-2 - 21
9. Millbrook - 12-3 - 19
10. Ardrey Kell - 10-4 - 18

HONORABLE MENTION: Apex (12-2) - 12; East Wake (12-2) - 11; West Forsyth (12-3) - 10; Page (11-4) - 10; Hopewell (12-2) - 10; Knightdale (11-3) - 10; SW Guilford (11-2) - 8; Cary (11-3) - 5; Jay Robinson (11-3) - 5; Mallard Creek (12-3) - 3; Rocky River (11-3) - 2; Jack Britt (10-4) - 1; Laney (13-2) - 1;

East Mecklenburg football coach Chris Williams resigns

East Mecklenburg High coach Chris Williams has resigned, Eagles athletics director Ec Little told the Observer.

Little said he hoped to name a replacement “as soon as possible.”

Williams coached two seasons at East and was 3-19. The Eagles will now have their fourth head coach since 2009, when Greg Hill led East Meck to an 8-6 record. Hill had back-to-back winning seasons in 2008 and ‘09. In the four subsequent years, the Eagles have gone 5-39.

Williams’ resignation creates the sixth head football coaching opening in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Garinger, Myers Park, Olympic, Vance and West Charlotte all have head coaching openings.

Monday, Mark Steele was hired as new coach at Lake Norman Charter.

In the Observer-area, former Maiden head coach Tom Brown is expected to come out of retirement and be named head coach at East Burke, where he will replace former Myers Park coach Jim Ruark. Sun Valley coach Paul Hall was replaced by Tad Baucom.

-- Other area schools with vacancies include East Rowan, Hunter Huss, Central Academy, Newton-Conover, Marvin Ridge and West Caldwell.

Under Armour Invitational brings top teams, talent to Charlotte Saturday (1/11)

Formerly the Brandon Jennings Invitational, the Under Armour Invitational moves to Charlotte this year and will bring several big-name recruits to Berry High beginning Saturday at noon.

One local team is playing, nationally ranked Northside Christian, plus one other N.C. team, High Point Wesleyan. Northside is ranked No. 12 nationally by USA Today. Wesleyan features top 15 national recruit Theo Pinson, who is a North Carolina recruit. Admission is $10.

Among seniors, there will be 19 major college recruits on the floor Saturday, including Pinson, whose team faces Prime Prep (TX). Prime Prep features Southern Methodist recruit Emmanuel Mudiay. Pinson, a 6-foot-6 guard, is ranked No. 13 nationally by ESPN; Mudiay, a 6-5 guard, is ranked fifth.

Other top recruits (with college and ESPN nationally ranking):
Wilibrham & Monson’s Goodluck Okonoboh, 6-9, C (UNLV, 21) and Max Hoetzel, 6-7 F (Indiana)

Denver East’s Dominique Collier, 6-2, G (Colorado, 62) and Ronnie Harrell, 6-7, F (Creighton)

St. John’s Tre’ Campbell, 6-2 G (Georgetown) and James Palmer, 6-4, G (Miami)

Math, Civics and Sciences Mike Watkins, 6-8, C (Penn State)

Hargrave Millitary’s Donte Grantham, 6-7, F (Clemson) and Rashard Kelly, 6-7, F (Wichita State)

St. Joseph Metuchen’s Karl Towns, 6-11, C (Kentucky) and Wade Baldwin, 6-2. G (Vanderbilt)

The Schedule: Northside Christian vs. Denver East (Colo), noon; St. John’s DC vs. Math, Civics and Science (Pa.), 1:30 p.m.; Oldmar Christian (Fla.) vs. Hargrave Military (Va.), 3 pm.; St. Joseph’s (NJ) vs. Wilbraham & Monson (Va.), 3 p.m.; High Point Wesleyan vs. Prime Prep (Texas), 6 p.m.