HIGH SCHOOL

Adrian Watson hired as Pigeon Forge football coach

Chris Thomas

USA TODAY Network - Tennessee

Pigeon Forge High School hired Northview assistant Adrian Watson as its football coach on Thursday.

Northview Academy football coach Todd Loveday walks on the practice field with assistant Adrian Watson. Watson was hired to be the coach at Pigeon Forge on Thursday, replacing Scott Meadows who retired in December due to health concerns.

Watson, 42, replaces Scott Meadows, who retired in December because of health concerns.

Watson began his career at Pigeon Forge when the school opened in 1999. He coached running backs and defensive backs at Northview Academy the past three seasons.

“I’m extremely humbled by the opportunity,” said Watson, a 1993 Gatlinburg-Pittman graduate. “I feel like there’s some unfinished business there.”

Watson also served as assistant principal and athletic director at Northview but wasn’t hired as an administrator at Pigeon Forge. It’s Watson’s first high school football head coaching job.

He’s still is weighing options for his offensive and defensive schemes.

“I come from a great football background of a strong running game and play-action passing,” Watson said. “Last three years, we ran a true spread. Then 10 years before that, when I was an assistant at Gatlinburg-Pittman, there was a lot of I-formation. It’s all football; what’s best for the kids is good for me. But it’s hard to beat running the clock.”