Havelock High has new football coach

Havelock High School has scheduled a Monday afternoon press conference to introduce its new head football coach.

Jim Bob Bryant, who was the head coach at Greene Central High School in Snow Hill last year, will take over the football program.

The Craven County Board of Education approved the hiring of Bryant as a physical education teacher at Havelock High at its meeting Thursday night.

Havelock Principal Jeff Murphy, while not confirming Bryant as the new football coach, did say the new coach would be introduced at 3 p.m. Monday.

Bryant will replace Charlie Smith, who guided the Rams for four seasons.

Bryant has compiled a 42-21 record in five seasons at Greene Central, a 2A team competing in the Eastern Plains Conference. Last year, Greene Central, which also has the name Rams as its mascot, went 8-4.

Bryant, at age 34, was named an assistant coach to the North Carolina team in last year's Shrine Bowl, becoming the youngest assistant coach ever selected in the 71-year history of the all-star football game.

Smith replaced Wilbur Sasser in 2004 and guided the Rams to the playoffs in his first season. However, Havelock has had three straight losing seasons, and in 2007, finished 3-8 after an 8-0 upset victory over playoff-bound West Craven in the final game of the season.

Murphy said Smith, who is also the school's athletic director and baseball coach, and he reached an agreement for Smith to step down as football coach in December.