The Mark Pemberton years for the Rhea County High School football program are sure to be remembered fondly.
With an old-school, smashmouth style of offense, the Golden Eagles successfully leaned on the run and scored more than 40 points in 33% of their games in Pemberton's 11 seasons as head coach, a tenure that came to a close Friday in Evensville.
The 63-year-old Pemberton resigned at Rhea County and shortly after was announced as the next head coach at Campbell County, moving from one TSSAA Class 5A program to another. With a career record of 250-113 as a head coach — including 87-45 with the Golden Eagles — he ranks third in wins among active coaches in Tennessee prep football.
"I have spent a third of my coaching career at Rhea County. Thirteen years in total, with two of those as an offensive coordinator," Pemberton said. "This is a great place to teach and coach, and a wonderful community that loves their football.
"With that being said, I am excited to get going at Campbell County. They really want a big-time winning football program. They are building a $2 million indoor practice field and weight room. Their commitment to athletics really blew me away."
Rhea County was a powerhouse in Pemberton's first four years running the show, as the program won 42 games — including a 21-1 record in region play — in that stretch and made back-to-back TSSAA state semifinal appearances in 2014-15.
In all, the Golden Eagles produced five region championships while going 40-9 in league play and made the state playoffs every year under Pemberton, who has a streak of 22 straight TSSAA postseason trips as a head coach as he moves to Campbell County.
The Cougars have reached the playoffs the past three years but lost in the first round each time. The Jacksboro program also made five straight postseason trips from 2013-17, with the only other state berths for the Cougars in 2004, 2007 and 2008. They have advanced in the playoffs twice, reaching the second round in 2013 and 2014.
The successes during Pemberton's coaching career include four state Mr. Football winners and three runner-ups for the award, and his 2008 Knoxville Catholic team won the Class 3A state title to finish 15-0. That was his seventh and final season with the Fighting Irish before spending one season leading Georgia's West Laurens.
He returned to Rhea County as head coach in 2013 after a season at Brentwood High School and has also been a head coach in Tennessee at Rockwood (1986-94), Cumberland County (1995) and Macon County (2010-11).
"I grew up in a football family," said Pemberton, who has had 109 student-athletes earn college football scholarships. "My dad coached for 40 years, so I knew at a young age I was going to play and coach football. I have played or coached football since I was 10 years old.
"Football takes toughness and self-discipline and teaches you how to handle adversity. I am thankful for all the game has taught me."
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.