Gryphons, new coaches, hit the practice field!

- New RMHS assistant coaches Ed Hiatt, Gerald Costen, Donovan Jackson

Over 100 kids turned out for Rocky Mount's first football practice Monday evening.

Fifth-year head coach B.W. Holt said it was the best-conditioned group he's had since he's been here. He was pleased with the turnout and he was pleased with the first day of practice.

There have been some changes on his staff, however.

Defensive coordinator Brent David, who came with Holt to Rocky Mount in 2003, has resigned and has taken a job closer to his native High Point. He will be a defensive coach at Winston-Salem Carver this season.

Holt, despite the lateness of David's departure, would like to fill his coaching spot before the start of the school year, if possible.

Holt, however, has added a coach to fill Chad Smith's (now new Norhthern Nash head coach) position.

Donovan Jackson has joined the staff as an offensive line coach. Jackson, playing on the offensive line, helped lead Winston-Salem Parkland to a 3-A state championship in 2001. He was a four-year starter on the O-line at Norfolk State and he played on the AFL 2's Laredo Lobos football team this summer. He will teach world history at RMHS.

"I am very excited to be here," said Jackson, 22. "I have heard a lot about the program and I am delighted to start my coaching career here. Rocky Mount has had a great amount talent over the years. I hope I can bring some desire and intensity to add to that talent. That's the recipe for winning a championship. Talent mixed in with intensity and desire."

A former RMHS assistant football and head basketball coach has returned as a volunteer coach. Gerald Costen, a former Gryphon player himself (Class of '72) will be helping out the Rocky Mount secondary. Costen has to feel like an empty-nester now. The last of his two children, a former cheerleader Shirleyse, graduated from RMHS in June and is a freshman at the University of Georgia.

This group will join Jason Battle (offensive coordinator), Kent Cox (secondary), Chris Lee (backs, quarterbacks), Curtis Rushing (special teams, defense), J.J. Jones (defense) and new addition Ed Hiatt (defense), who was featured in an earlier blog entry.

Battle, incidently, has been on an emotional ride of late. On Monday, he and his wife celebrated the birth of their first child - a girl. But at the same time, his thoughts were with his father, who is in the Burn Center at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill. The elder Battle suffered severe burns to his body in an accident in Wilson County a few weeks ago.

Our sincere prayers go out to the Battle family and we wish him a speedy recovery!