Purcell Marian names former Hughes head coach to lead its football program
Chris Mobley Jr. has been named the head football coach at Purcell Marian High School.
He replaces Jeremy Pflug, who resigned after one season at Purcell. Pflug led the Cavaliers to a 10-3 record and the third round of the Division V playoffs.
“Coach Mobley is a proven leader,” said Purcell Marian co-athletic director LeTisha Mosley in a press release. “He has all the qualities that we look for in a head coach. He has shown not only that he can lead a winning program, but that he can develop student-athletes on and off the field.”
Mobley has seven seasons of head coaching experience, six at Hughes where he went 26-28 overall. Mobley led the Big Red to three consecutive winning seasons for the first time in school history.
Mobley was the defensive coordinator at Dixie Heights during the 2023 season before stepping down in February to take the head coaching job at Gamble Montessori. He had the Gamble position for less than two months before accepting the Purcell Marian job.
At Dixie Heights, he coached a defensive unit that saw massive statistical improvements and led the state of Kentucky in total sacks.
“I’m extremely excited to be a part of such a prestigious program,” said Mobley in the press release. “I look forward to being the best possible mentor and teacher for our student-athletes.”
Mobley was the defensive line coach and video coordinator at Kentucky Christian University during the 2015 season. He also spent two seasons as the defensive line coach at Muskingum University in 2012 and 2013.
Mobley Jr. graduated from Kent State University with a degree in educational studies and interned with the Golden Flashes Women’s Basketball team. He played football at Indiana State University and was the defensive captain in 2007.
Mobley could reunite with the man he replaced at Gamble, Robert Rachel, who stepped down after eight seasons with the Gators to take an assistant position at Purcell. Rachel led the Gators to a 32-40 record from 2016 to 2023.
Last season, Purcell won the Scarlet Division championship in the Miami Valley Conference, its first title in five seasons in the MVC. The Cavaliers won the title in their first season playing on their new on-campus field, Staubach Stadium.
The Cavaliers return first-team all-state selections Jayel Harris on offense and Jayonn Saunders on defense. Harris rushed for 2,109 yards and 29 touchdowns. Saunders had 65 tackles and nine interceptions, one for a touchdown. He also caught 19 passes on offense. He was also the Southwest District defensive player of the year.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Purcell Marian names a new head football coach
