2014 Autozone All-Star Game coaches seleted

[kwc]

From the Commercial Appeal

 

Donaldson, Van Hooks to coach AutoZone all-star game

 

John Varlas

 

Since becoming involved with the AutoZone Liberty Bowl high school football all-star game in 2010, Cecil Van Hooks has worn many different hats.

 

"Let's see, I coached wide receivers one year, defensive backs one year," he said. "I was offensive coordinator, of course we lost that year. ... This year, I think I'm just going to sit back and reap the rewards."

 

Van Hooks, the head coach at Craigmont High, was named Tuesday as one of the coaches for the 13th all-star game, which takes place on Dec. 13. at Memphis University School.

 

His opposite number will be Robby Donaldson of First Assembly Christian School, another longtime assistant in the game.

 

"When they asked me in July, I was just very shocked," said Donaldson, whose team is 6-2 heading into Friday night's game against Kingsbury. "I've been involved with the game for a long time, but to be picked as the head coach, it's just very humbling. And as the head coach I feel more pressure to pick the right players, make the right decisions so that we can win."

 

Tuesday's announcement at the Westin Hotel Memphis was lacking in trash talk that sometimes occurs between the participants.

 

"Coach Van Hooks and I are both pretty low-key," said Donaldson. "But that doesn't mean there won't be the potential for fireworks at the game."

 

After low-scoring contests in the first 10 years of the game, the last two meetings have been wide-open, high-scoring affairs.

 

"Especially if we get some of my guys in the game," said Van Hooks, whose Chiefs are 7-1 and ranked 12th in the Dandy Dozen. "We've got some guys that can roll. But there's just so much football talent in Memphis."

 

Donaldson, whose team participates in the small private-school division, said he's looking forward to working with some of that talent as well.

 

"That's one of the neat things about this game," he said. "You have small private school, large public schools, small city schools, county schools and they all come together." "By the end of the week (of practice), they've come together as a team and they battle like a team that's been together for years."

Edited October 22, 2014 by kwc