Westwood coach leaves alma mater for Cordova
It’s tough saying goodbye to your alma mater. But Anthony Jones said the chance was much too good to pass up.
Jones is leaving Westwood, the school where he played and then coached for the last two seasons, to take the head football coaching job at Cordova.
“It’s always hard leaving a place where you’ve built great relationships,” said Jones. “But when the Cordova job opened back up, I felt like it was the right opportunity for me and my family.”
Jones replaces John Bush, who was the Wolves’ interim coach in 2012 and took the job permanently in March. Bush has accepted an assistant principal’s job at Chimneyrock Elementary.
Jones had two solid seasons with the Longhorns, leading them to the Class 2A playoffs each year. Westwood finished 7-5 in 2011 and ended with an 8-3 mark this past season.
He’ll be facing a big rebuilding job at Cordova, which won just one game last year under Bush, who took over after then-coach William Johnson was suspended — and subsequently fired — after using an ineligible player during the preseason jamboree.
“It’s going to be a challenge, but it’s a challenge that I’m definitely up for,” said Jones. “It’s a very attractive job with a lot of potential for growth. There’s great parental support and great support from the administration.
“I’ve already met with some of the kids and they’re dying for success. I feel like (Cordova) is a sleeping giant, ready to explode.”
Ridge Smith said the scouts were hard to ignore. But as it turns out, they were there for a good reason.
The star catcher-middle infielder from Germantown was taken by the Cleveland Indians in the 29th round of the major league draft Saturday. The selection capped a tremendous senior season for the 5-9, 190-pound Smith, who batted .473 for the Red Devils with five homers, five triples and 11 doubles.
“It did,” said Smith when asked if the scouts at Germantown’s games affected him this year.
“I had one or two rough games at the start of the season. I had never really thought of myself as a pro prospect coming out of high school. But I got used to it and I really enjoyed my senior season.”
Smith said he doesn’t expect the Indians to meet his signing figure and that he expects to play at Austin Peay next spring. But Saturday was a big day nevertheless.
“It feels awesome to just to be able to say I was drafted,” he said.
Several other players with local ties had their names called on the draft’s final day.
University of Memphis junior left-hander Erik Schoenrock was taken in the 11th round by the San Diego Padres. The former Collierville standout and son of Tigers coach Daron Schoenrock was named Conference USA pitcher of the year this past season after going 7-4 with a 3.02 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 98¥ innings.
Outf i elder Jordan Barnes, who helped Arlington win the AAA state championship in 2012, was drafted in the 15th round by the New York Yankees. Barnes batted . 324 and stole 22 bases for Northwest Mississippi CC this season.
Former Houston High pitcher Daniel Palo was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 27th round. The 6-4, 240-pound righthander appeared in 20 games for Middle Tennessee State this season, going 1-1 with a 2.64 ERA.
Memphis University School infielder Dalton Dulin was taken by Philadelphia in the 36th round. Dulin, who has signed with Ole Miss, was an allmetro selection after helping the Owls to a Division 2-AA state semifinal berth.