Gadsden area high school football: How we graded the 5 new coaching hires

The Gadsden area high school football scene experienced some turnover on the coaching side.

One of the most tradition rich programs in Etowah County opened up last fall. This year one of the biggest schools in the county also opened up. Two of the smaller jobs in the county also opened, but switched coaches, with a year gap. One of the on-the-rise programs in Dekalb County opened up as well.

With five changes around the Gadsden area, it's time to grade the hires made this offseason.

Etowah − B-

ETOWAH FOOTBALL: 'Get things back on track': What new Etowah football coach Scott Peavey said about goals

The hire: Scott Peavey, Haralson County (GA) head coach

Replacing: Matt Glover, let go

Reasoning: Peavey holds a career record of 112-115 and is coming off of a 2-8 season in Georgia. He has a better record in Alabama going 68-55 over 12 seasons. What helps this hire, is that Peavey seems to be a steady force and that's what Etowah needs after a tumultuous Glover tenure and him being the fourth coach in the last four seasons.

Gaston − A+

DERRICK SEWELL: Gaston football names former West End coach Derrick Sewell as new head coach

The hire: Derrick Sewell, West End head coach

Replacing: Alan Beckett, let go

Reasoning: Gaston let go a player-favorite coach in Beckett but made a home run hire in Sewell, who had been building something out in Walnut Grove for the last three seasons. It won't be immediate but Sewell could end up having the most success at his school than the other four coaches on this list.

Southside − B+

SOUTHSIDE: Etowah County board of education makes the hire of Ben Stewart as Southside football coach official

The hire: Ben Stewart, former Oxford OC

Replacing: Miles Holcomb, moved to Tuscaloosa County

Reasoning: Stewart checks off a lot of boxes that you'd want in head coach, even if he doesn't come with previous head coaching experience, which keeps this from being an A-hire. Stewart came up in the area, mostly St. Clair County and comes with Class 6A experience, which will help the Panthers as they make the move up. Stewart being on the offensive side also falls in line with recent Panthers coaches.

Sylvania − B+

The hire: Tanner Nelson, former Collinsville OC

Replacing: Tyler Vann, moved to Scottsboro

Reasoning: Hiring Nelson away from a county rival that is about to join the region is probably a smart move, especially after the success that Collinsville's offense has had over the last three years. Nelson doesn't come with any head coaching experience but his success as an assistant shows he is ready for the head gig.

West End − A

DREAM JOB: West End football promotes Matt Harris to 'dream job' as head coach of Patriots

The hire: Matt Harris, promoted from O-Line coach, former Gaston coach

Replacing: Derrick Sewell, moved to Gaston

Reasoning: Harris was an internal hire but was probably one of the best hires that could be made in April. Harris brings experience in Etowah County from his time at Gaston. Him being a West End graduate is a major bonus, since he knows the system and what this program can be. Continuing the trajectory that Sewell had the Patriots on should be a priority and this hire shows that.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: How we graded the 5 Gadsden area high school football hires