Phil Russell relieved of head coaching duties at Lynn Camp

A decision was made Tuesday by Knox County Schools Superintendent Kelly Sprinkles, Lynn Camp High School Principal Anthony Pennington and Lynn Camp Athletic Director Danny Green to relieve Phil Russell from his duties as head coach of the Lynn Camp Wildcats football program.

“We just decided to go in a different direction,” said Green when asked about the move. “We have appointed coaches Willard Farris and Alan Harris to share in the head coaching duties at Lynn Camp until the end of this season. At that time we will begin our search for a new full-time head coach.”

Russell said that he was asked to resign, but declined that offer because he is “not a quitter.” According to his account, he was at that point told that he would no longer be the head coach of the Wildcats football program.

In a statement that he posted to his Facebook page, Russell said, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone associated with the Lynn Camp football program and the opportunities my family and I were given these past two-and-a-half seasons.”

“I was terminated today from my position as head football coach and will continue to teach and support Lynn Camp Schools. Good luck to everyone the rest of the 2014 season and God bless!”

Russell said the only way that he would’ve resigned on his own is if he would have done something that he knew was wrong, but he said that he never did anything wrong. He said that it was “their decision” to let him go, and he is already reaching out to other teams to see if he can get hired on to coach elsewhere.

Since taking over the program in 2012, Russell has compiled an overall record of 7-20. So far this season, the Wildcats have a record of 1-4. In their last game, on Septemeber 19, they were defeated 57-6 by Pineville (3-1). They have a bye week this week before hosting a game against Clinton County on Friday, October 3.