CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WRCB) -- Cleveland High School reached into Middle Tennessee to find a new leader for its football program.
Brentwood High coach Ron Crawford has been hired to take over the Blue Raiders. The move was first reported by our media partners at the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
Crawford replaces E.K. Slaughter, who resigned in November after going 14-18 and making one playoff appearance in three seasons at CHS.
"When you've been in a place for a decade, a move like this can be bittersweet because of the relationships I've built up at Brentwood. But at the same time, it's a great opportunity and I'm excited to lead a program with such a rich history," Crawford said by phone Tuesday night. "I really looked at the job three years ago when it opened, so I'm looking forward to the transition and can't wait to get started."
Crawford comes from a rich coaching tree as the son of long-time mid-state coach Tom Crawford, who has made stops at Shelbyville, Moore County and Shelbyville Central. The elder Crawford has actually served as his son's assistant since 2002.
"He's about to turn 71 and mom doesn't want to move, so I don't think he'll be coming with me," Crawford joked.
Crawford owns a 101-45 career record as a head coach (94-32 at BHS) and won the Class 5A state championship in his first season at Brentwood High in 2002.
The Bruins finished just 6-4 in the regular season in 2011, but beat Independence and Franklin in the first two rounds of the TSSAA Class 6A playoffs before falling to eventual state runner-up Mount Juliet in the quarterfinals.
"I don't know as much about what Cleveland has done the last couple years, but I know about their tradition that was established with Benny Monroe in the 90's," Crawford said. "I hope this is the first step in a great relationship that will lead them back there.
"I know they were looking for a new direction, and I hope I can provide them with some consistency and get them back to that point."
Crawford's first head coaching job was at Coffee County High, which was sandwiched between two stints as defensive coordinator at powerhouse Murfreesboro Riverdale. There he served under current Alcoa coach Gary Rankin and was a part of two state titles (1997 and 2001) and two state runner-up finishes (1995 and 2000).
His first coaching job after graduating from Middle Tennessee State came as an assistant at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, where he worked with Channel 3 Friday Night Football analyst and former Cleveland assistant Mark Tipton.
"I think it's a great hire," Tipton said. "Ron is a great coach from a great background. Coaching is in his genes as a coach's son. Plus he's got a state title.
"Cleveland truly went after someone who has proven he can get the job done."
The Blue Raiders rallied from an 0-3 start to finish 5-5 overall in 2011, but still missed the playoffs. They were forced to scrap Slaughter's usual spread offense in favor of a more balanced offensive attack because of personnel.
Crawford wouldn't commit to a particular style of play on either side of the ball, only that it would be based on fundamentals.
"As far as styles go, I don't rule out any system. We'll base everything we do around the kids that we have, and we'll start evaluating that as soon as we get there," Crawford said. "I know offensively we've got a great young quarterback coming up (rising junior Austin Herink, who attended the U.S. Army Junior Combine this month), so that's a good place to start.
"All I can tell you is that we'll be able to run, throw, catch, block and tackle. I'm not much of a schematic coach. I'm more of a fundamentals guy. So that's where we'll start."
Ron Crawford is leaving Brentwood after 10 seasons to take over at Cleveland High (Photo Courtesy: BrentwoodHomePage.com)
