North Jefferson News, Gardendale, AL

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  • Zac Willis, the new head football coach and athletic director at Corner High, lays down a paint strip on the practice field just outside his office. Willis, the former defensive coordinator, took over the head coaching job from Brent Smith, who left Corner to take over at Shelby County High School. Robert Carter

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August 9, 2012

Zac Willis takes over as Jackets head coach

By Robert Carter North Jefferson News

CORNER — Zac Willis may be the man in charge at Corner High School now, but that doesn’t get him out of some laborious tasks, such as painting yard lines on the practice field.

That’s exactly where the Yellow Jackets’ new head football coach and athletic director could be found on a recent hot afternoon, along with several members of his coaching staff.

No pulling rank, at least not just yet.

Willis, the former defensive coordinator, was named to replace his old boss, Brent Smith, who left Corner to take over the Shelby County High program  — a move Smith made as much to be closer to his home in Pelham than to be upwardly mobile, career-wise.

Smith is the only coach to take the Jackets to the Class 4A playoffs, doing so at the end of both of his two coaching stints there. They lost to Deshler in the first round last year.

That post-season trip had a lasting carryover effect, as boys turned out in record numbers this spring to play. Smith was still there at the time, but they have all stayed over to play for Willis.

“We had more than 80 come out in the spring, and we lost just one, and that’s because he needed to concentrate on another sport,” Willis said.

“These guys have been very dedicated during the off-season. They’ve been here in the weight room every morning. There’s a sense of teamwork with this bunch that has been great to see.”

One of Willis’s first moves was to hire his own replacement. That came in the form of Rusty Rouse, who moves over from Gardendale High. Jeff Smith remains as offensive coordinator; Smith was the head coach in between Smith’s two stints with Corner.

He’s also had to get used to the other part of the job, serving as athletic director.

“I didn’t realize how much there was to that job — raising money, hiring in other sports, all that stuff. I spend as much time with that as I do with the football team,” Willis said.

But for the new guy, help is just a phone call away.

“I’ve talked to Brent several times already,” Willis said. “He has been a huge help for me.”

The Jackets return a solid roster for the 2012 season, with senior all-state place kicker Troy Elliott returning for his final year.

Corner opens with a jamboree game against Fultondale, then begins the regular season with two road games. All five home games are in a row starting with Week 3.

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