UPDATED: Haywood football hires Liberty's Steve Hookfin

Haywood County Schools Superintendent Teresa Russell said in a statement on Wednesday she was "excited" to announce Steve Hookfin as the Tomcats' new head football coach.

"His extensive resume and most recent success at Liberty High School in Jackson, makes Hookfin the perfect candidate for Haywood High School," she said in a statement. "He also possesses characteristics that will be shown both on and off the field."

Hookfin leaves Liberty after eight seasons leading the Crusaders. He compiled an overall record of 62-34. The Crusaders won the 2014 District 15-AA championship, and they made the Class 4A state semifinals in 2009 and 2013.

Hookfin takes over for Ernie Jackson, who was relieved of his coaching duties after a record of 10-11 in two seasons. Jackson was the third consecutive coach for the Tomcats to coach two years.

Hookfin had made a yearly ritual of playing one of the more challenging non-district schedules in the area that would cause the Crusaders to have a slow start to the season in terms of wins and losses, but they normally rebounded to earn one of the top two spots for a guaranteed playoff spot in the former Z-Plan method of classification in the TSSAA.

Russell said Hookfin's philosophy of game strategy was attractive during the hiring process.

"Teams coached by Hookfin have been known to play a physical and aggressive style of football, which is desired by our program," she said in the statement.

Hookfin inherits a program that is described by area coaches as one of the most athletic in any given year but has potential this season behind such athletes as blue chip prospect defensive lineman Emmit Gooden, who has a number of NCAA Division I offers from teams mainly in the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten.

Russell encouraged a unified fan base get behind the team and its new leader.

"Coach Hookfin has a passion for coaching and mentoring young men," Russell said in the statement. "That, coupled with a great work ethic, will definitely contribute to the future success of our program.

"We encourage the community to rally around the coaches and the team as they prepare for 2015 season."

Haywood will be in Region 7-4A in the new football alignment, and eight other rural West Tennessee teams will be in it as well including Hardin County, North Side, Crockett County, Lexington, Chester County, Ripley, Obion County and Dyer County.

Brandon Shields, 425-9751