Lookout Valley has turned to a very familiar face to take over its high school football program. Again.
David Dinger, a 1983 graduate of Lookout Valley who has worked at his alma mater for 29 years, has agreed to take over as head coach for a third time.
Dinger replaces Lance Rorex, who agreed to coach the Yellow Jackets last season in addition to his role as Lookout Valley's head coach for high school baseball. Rorex stepped in late last spring after Tony Webb left to accept an assistant's job at Signal Mountain. Rorex guided the Jackets to a 5-6 overall record and an appearance in the Class 1A playoffs before stepping down.
"Lance stepped up last year and did a great job, but it's just really difficult to do both jobs," said Dinger, who was Lookout Valley's head football coach from 1989 to '94 and again for the 1997 season and has been its defensive coordinator the past 10 years.
"They offered me the job, and I took a little time to think about it and decided I really wanted to do it because I enjoy it and I think having consistency is best for the kids. We've got a good system in place that the kids know well, and we're going in the right direction. Lance will stay on the staff and this way not much will change, and that's what's best for our program."
Dinger also coached Lookout Valley's high school baseball program for 23 years, guiding the Jackets to nine district championships and four state tournament appearances. He resigned from that position in 2011 and has coached Lookout Valley's high school softball program since 2014.
"We are very proud and excited to have Coach Dinger back as our head football coach," school athletic director Kristen Clounch said. "We know he has great things in store for Lookout Valley football."
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.