Lance Rorex, already the head coach for the Lookout Valley high school baseball program, will now head up the football program as well.Within a matter of hours, the Lookout Valley high school football program lost one head coach and named a new one.
Tony Webb stepped down early Wednesday morning to accept an offer to join Signal Mountain's staff as an assistant and was replaced later in the day by Yellow Jackets assistant Lance Rorex.
"Having Lance agree to step in made the difference between me needing a fourth of a bottle of tums and a whole bottle," Lookout Valley principal Rick Rushworth said. "We're pretty pleased to have someone like Lance who can step in. We wish the best for Tony, but we're excited for what the future can be for us."
Rushworth called Rorex with an offer to add football to his list of coaching duties at his alma mater. Rorex, who graduated from Lookout Valley in 2008, is also the Yellow Jackets' baseball coach.
"I was mowing the baseball field, and Mr. Rushworth called me to his office and asked," Rorex said. "I guess that means I've got two fields to mow now. I never would've imagined me being a head football coach, but I love Lookout Valley and I'm excited about a new challenge.
"We've got so many good coaches around me, I know to look to them for advice. I already texted all the baseball guys to make sure they help us and told them to ask some of their friends from school, too."
Rorex just finished his fourth year at Lookout Valley, but last season was his first as a football assistant.
Webb coached at Lookout Valley for 20 years, including the past 13 as head coach. Despite the constant battle of having the fewest players among varsity football programs in the area - Webb typically had around 20 players and never more than 26 on the roster in a season - he averaged eight wins during one eight-year stretch and leaves as the Yellow Jackets all-time wins leader.
He guided Lookout Valley to seven appearances in the playoffs, including the school's only 10-win season in 2007 and two of the program's three playoff wins (2007, 2011).
"It was a tough decision because there's such a level of comfort I'm leaving," Webb said. "I just felt like the time was right, and I have reached the point in my career that I needed a new challenge. I'm really grateful to the school and the community at Lookout Valley for giving me a chance to begin my career."
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.