Pryor to hiring Rayl, county school board administrators had formed a committee to accept applications for the coaching job, review those applications and decide on the top five candidates. The top five would be interviewed and a recommendation would be made by the committee. Rayl was the first choice.

After Ryal decided not to take the job, the hiring committee made a second recommendation for the coaching job. The committee has recommended Tommy Clemmer of Loudon for the head coach position. This recommendation has caused some contention among Cherokees fans and supporters. Clemmer has been an assistant coach in the Greenback program in the past.

At last Thursday's Loudon County school board workshop, some Greenback residents spoke against the hiring of Clemmer. There are also some who wanted a different coach that wasn't recommended by the committee but formerly held the head coach position at Greenback. However, that candidate demanded a far higher salary to take the job than the board was willing to pay.

Since Clemmer is not a teacher and does not have a teaching certificate, the school board will have to vote on the hire. That meeting will be Thursday, 6:00 pm at the Annex in Loudon.