Harrell out

Piggott announced Wednesday that Coach Michael Harrell was reassigned to teaching duties at the high school.

Harrell was 34-30 at Piggott since 2014. He had not coached the past two games for the Mohawks, Superintendent Barry DeHart said.

According to a statement released by Piggott on Wednesday, Harrell was also relieved of his duties as the school’s athletic director. DeHart said Harrell had taught physical education at Piggott, but that his new teaching role was to be determined.

It has been an emotional football season for Piggott.

Junior lineman Hunter Midkiff collapsed at practice Aug. 10 from a heatstroke and died Aug. 15 at Children’s Hospital in Memphis after suffering complications from liver transplant surgery.

When asked whether Harrell’s reassignment was related to Midkiff’s death, DeHart said it was not.

“It has absolutely nothing to do with the death of Hunter Midkiff,” DeHart said. “It’s a totally separate issue.”

Midkiff, 16, started for the Mohawks as a sophomore. His No. 56 is painted at midfield at Piggott’s Parker Field, and teams in the 3A-3 Conference are wearing Midkiff’s initials on their helmets.

DeHart would not elaborate further other than to say the district is investigating a personnel matter that had taken place within “the last week and a half to two weeks.”

Assistant coach Don Simmons, formerly the head coach at Greene County Tech from 2014-17, is Piggott’s interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

“We’re in good hands with him,” DeHart said.

Piggott (2-1) opens its 3A-3 Conference schedule Friday against Manila.