Fightin’ Indians get trio of new assistant football coaches

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Rick Cullum, pictured above during the recent Indian Football Camp, is one of three new assistant football coaches coming aboard at Jacksonville High School this season. Cullum will be the Indians’ offensive coordinator and will work with the quarterbacks. Cullum helped guide Lufkin High School to a state championship while serving as offensive coordinator. Other new coaches include, Jamie Palmer who comes to Jacksonville after serving as offensive coordinator at Palestine the past two years and Steve Kelley who will be working with the Indian freshman team. Kelley is a former longtime coach at Nacogdoches. Progress file photo by Jay Neal

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July 27, 2010

Jay Neal Jacksonville Daily Progress The Jacksonville Daily Progress Tue Jul 27, 2010, 05:10 PM CDT

JACKSONVILLE — It will be several weeks before Jacksonville Indian football fans will be able to determine if this year’s team will be improved over teams of the past.

One facet that JHS athletic director and head football coach Steve Wells has already strengthened significantly is his staff of assistant football coaches.

Highlighting the influx of new blood is Rick Cullum who will be serving as the Tribe’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Cullum brings a proven track record with him to Jacksonville, having served as offensive coordinator on a state-championship Lufkin team. He also has been a head coach as well.

“We’re real excited about having Rick (Cullum) here as our new offensive coordinator,” Wells said in an interview Tuesday morning. “He’s coached the spread (offense) for a long time and has been successful everywhere he has been.

“He brings a lot of experience as an offensive coordinator and from being a head coach at a couple of schools.”

Wells said he didn’t expect any radical changes on offense, but that fans should see the same basic offensive package with a lot more wrinkles and twists this year.

“Philosophically, Rick and I think a lot a like, both in the passing game and in the running game,” Wells said. “I don’t think we will be seeing sweeping changes over what we ran last year, but I think you will see us running out of many different formations within the spread and I think we will be doing a few things different in our running package also.

“I think our offense will really be exciting for the fans here in Jacksonville to watch (this season).”

Jamie Palmer returns to JHS after having served on the staff of Randy Copeland two years ago.

Since that time, Palmer, who will be assisting with the offensive linemen, has toiled as the offensive coordinator at Palestine.

“Palmer has some good ideas that he brings to us and will help coach our offensive line,” Wells said. “His teams at Palestine averaged 400-500 yards a game the whole time he was there.”

Wells went on to say that he anticipates both Cullum and Palmer will have a smooth transition onto the staff.

“I think both Rick and Jamie will have a good working relationship with the existing members of our coaching staff,” he said.

Also coming to Jacksonville is Steve Kelley who will assist with the freshman football team while also serving as the head freshman boys basketball coach.

Kelley, who is no relation to JHS head boys basketball coach Brent Kelley, previously coached for many years at Nacogdoches.

In other moves, Justin Powell is the new head freshman football coach, while Josh Best will be in charge of the varsity secondary this year.

“We have a great staff this year,” Wells said. “This is one of the best staffs I have worked on in my 22 years of coaching.”

Jacksonville opens two-a-day workouts at 7 a.m. Monday.

2010 Jacksonville High School Varsity Football Coaching Roster

Head coach — Steve Wells

Offensive coordinator — Rick Cullum

Defensive coordinator — Michael Baysinger

Offensive line coaches — Joe Currie, Jamie Palmer

Receivers coach — Brent Kelley

Running backs coach — Chace Woods

Defensive tackles coach — Gregg “Hoss” Armstrong

Defensive ends coach — Davin Nelson

Cornerbacks coach — Corey Spoon

Secondary coach — Josh Best

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Fightin’ Indians get trio of new assistant football coaches

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