Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Hiatt joins Gryphon football coaching staff

What do the following high schools have in common: Harnett Central, West Carteret, Richmond County, Millbrook, North Surry, Lexington, Richlands, Lenoir (West Caldwell), Valdese (East Burke)?

No clue?

All nine have had a head football coach named Ed Hiatt. Hiatt, 68, is joining Rocky Mount's varsity football staff this summer and will coach the defensive line. He is a Mt. Airy native and a Presbyterian College grad who currently resides in Durham.

After being in the coaching business for almost 40 years, Rocky Mount head football coach B.W. has a network the FBI would be envious of. There doesn't seem to be a gridiron coach worth his salt that Holt doesn't know or have regular contact with - active or retired.

So when he needed another assistant for his staff (he may add as many as two new ones this summer), he cruised around that network and found a much-traveled, but a multi-dimensional coach to add to his staff. You might have called him early in his career a self-professed reviver of down football programs.

The two have known each other for some 25 years. Holt asked him to join the staff and Hiatt jumped at the chance to work with his old friend.

Hiatt started working with the RM program this week as he assisted with the NFL High School Player Development Camp. His teaching position this fall is still being worked out.

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