FOOTBALL

UPDATED: Tyler Turner selected as Liberty football coach

The Jackson Sun
Jackson Sun sports

After nearly two months of searching, Liberty Tech High School has a new football coach.

Tyler Turner was announced on Thursday as the new leader for the gridiron Crusaders.

"I am very happy and honored to welcome Tyler Turner to the Liberty Tech family," said Liberty principal Dr. June Murry. "Needless to say, we have been looking for someone with some very special qualities, beginning with a heart that beats to the values and vision of Liberty Tech and our football legacy and tradition.

"We have found that man to take Liberty Tech football forward."

Turner has been an assistant coach in Wynne, Ark., as an assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and strength and conditioning coach.

Turner played high school ball at Obion County High under Darren Bowling, who's now the head coach at Union City. He was part of a coaching staff that took Wynne High from 15 wins in four years to a record of 42-9 in the past four years while racking up other honors such as a Class 5A runner-up, 5A East Conference championship and two conference runners-up finishes.

Wynne High head coach Chris Hill was on the OCCHS coaching staff when Turner played there, and Turner was his first hire when he took over the program in Arkansas.

"Coach Turner has been vital to this program," Hill said during a phone interview. "He was instrumental in coming in and changing the attitudes and culture of the program that got this thing started.

"He held the kids accountable and made sure they were always doing what we needed them to be as a football program to help it succeed."

Turner is replacing Steve Hookfin, who resigned in February to take the head coaching position at Haywood. Hookfin led the Crusaders to a District 15-AA championship in 2014 with an 8-3 record two years after being named the All-West Tennessee Coach of the Year when he led the Crusaders to their second appearance in the state semifinals (2009, '12).

Liberty enters a new region in the TSSAA's football reclassification that happened last year, and the Crusaders are in a nine-team region in Class 3A, Region 7 with Dyersburg, Jackson Central-Merry, McNairy, Milan, South Gibson, South Side and Westview.

More on this story as it develops.