Cantrell named new coach at Westview
Trey Cantrell waited a little more than a month for his opportunity, but he got it Friday.
Cantrell, who’s been an assistant coach for the Westview football program the last 12 seasons, was officially named the head coach by Principal Jeromy Davidson.
“I feel like I’m as ready as I’ll ever be for this opportunity,” Cantrell said. “Working with [former Westview coach Don Coady] for the last 12 years has taught me a lot about the game of football and about working with the kids we have here in the program.”
Cantrell has a West Tennessee pedigree. He played high school ball at Bruceton and finished his college ball and graduate assistant coaching at Bethel College under former Wildcats coach Dino Kaklis.
Cantrell was promoted to defensive coordinator under Coady in 2009, and he’s held that title ever since.
After Coady announced his resignation in early April, Cantrell was the coach charged with leading spring practice.
He said he didn’t feel like spring ball was an on-the-job interview.
“Honestly, my main focus was just on making sure we had a good spring and everything went well for the kids,” Cantrell said. “I think this spring was an important time for the team even if Coach Coady hadn’t stepped down because we will be so young this year.
“And I was proud of the effort I saw from them. We had some good practices and had a good scrimmage against Dyer County.”
Cantrell’s day was a busy one as he began the search for a couple of assistants and received well wishes from friends while also doing interviews. But he also had a conversation with Coady.
“We just talked about the summer and what’s coming up in the future for both of us,” Cantrell said. “Coach Coady may be leaving Westview, but that doesn’t mean he’s leaving us.
“I plan on keeping up with him. I know a lot of the kids are too, and he will keep up with us.”
Cantrell replaces Coady, who won 199 games during a 25-year tenure leading the Chargers.
Cantrell said he expects there to be a few subtle changes to the program, but not much.
“Coach Coady and I are different people, so we won’t do everything the same,” Cantrell said. “But good coaches are good coaches no matter what they do with X’s and O’s.”
Brandon Shields, 425-9751