Beckett happy to be coaching at ‘a special place’

Alan Beckett was approved as the new head football coach at Cedar Bluff on Tuesday. From left is Cedar Bluff Principal Rusty Thrasher, Beckett and his wife Amanda, and Cherokee County Schools Superintendent Mike Welsh. Photo by Joey Weaver.

CEDAR BLUFF – For years, Alan Beckett was coaching on the opposing sideline when his teams played at Cedar Bluff’s L.D. Bruce Field.

Now he’s about to experience what it’s like to be the Tigers’ head coach.

Beckett was approved by the Cherokee County Board of Education Tuesday to become Cedar Bluff’s new head football coach. He replaces Jonathan McWhorter, who accepted the school’s assistant principal position about a month ago.

The son of Cherokee County Hall of Fame coach Bobby Beckett, Alan Beckett comes to the Tigers after spending last football season at Class 7A Gadsden City High School, where he served as offensive coordinator.

Prior to that, he was the head coach at Class 1A Winterboro, where he guided the Bulldogs to 34 wins in seven seasons. He is the only football coach to lead that program to three consecutive playoff appearances.

Most Cedar Bluff fans know the younger Beckett from his days at Collinsville, where he was head coach of the Panthers from 2007-12. While at Collinsville, Beckett led the Panthers to a 43-23 record, including two region championships.

Beckett called the Cedar Bluff position ‘a dream job.’

“I’m proud to be at Cedar Bluff,” he said. “It’s a place with a great football history, a great community. I’ve always looked at it that way from nearby. They’ve had legendary players and coaches. You’re talking about L.D. Bruce and Jeff Bullen and Steve Smith and Jonathan McWhorter. There’s a lot of history there. I am one excited guy.”

Beckett said he wasn’t actively seeking to leave Gadsden City. He said he was happy being an assistant on the Titans’ staff, but when he heard of the Cedar Bluff job opening, he couldn’t pass it by without applying.

“It had to be the right opportunity,” he said. “I really liked where I was. (Class) 7A was a different animal. It was exciting to be in that kind of league. It was exciting to be around those kind of people on a daily basis, but I knew after talking with (Cedar Bluff principal) Mr. (Rusty) Thrasher, I knew the history of the school, and the specialness of the place, that’s a destination kind of job. You want to be at a place that really cares and is passionate. Every place isn’t, I can promise you that.

“I asked my wife (Amanda) when the offer came, and she was like ‘Are you kidding? We’re talking about Cedar Bluff. Let’s go.’ She’s right. It’s a no-brainer when a special place like this opens.”

Beckett said something else that is special to him is working with his predecessor McWhorter.

“You’re talking about a first-ballot Cherokee County Hall of Fame guy, the winningest coach in school history. He’s won 18 playoff games and five region championships, and he’s going to be there close,” Beckett said. “I know the foundation is there. I’ve come into some situations as a head and an assistant coach that it was going to take some time to rebuild. This is not that. This place has a 50-year foundation. That’s nice.”

Beckett hasn’t met with the Cedar Bluff players yet, but he has been introduced to his assistant coaches. He said they’re as excited as he is to get to work.

“It’s a great group of guys,” he said. “I’m going to sell our program, and I hope they do their part to bring good energy and buy into what we’re doing on behalf of the school. I’ve got a first 30-day plan. We’re going to try and reach kids and alumni and fundraisers touch base with teachers and any kid who’s not out there and get this thing going.

“I’ve always seen great energy from the Cedar Bluff kids. They’re hard workers and grinders. I’ve been in some situations where you’re constantly trying to motivate kids to get to workouts or in other directions. These kids like football and they like Cedar Bluff. They have a blue collar work ethic that I can’t wait to be a part of. I’m ready to get started and ready to see where the journey goes.”

Beckett wasn’t the only coaching news out of Cedar Bluff Tuesday evening. The school also filled the boys and girls basketball vacancies with Nathan Wehunt and Katie McGinnis respectively. Both Wehunt and McGinnis were assistants last season to longtime coach Joe Carpenter. Carpenter announced his retirement from the school back in March.

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