‘Make it a Grand Week’- Olivia Lobertini, The Grand on Central

‘I think all the ingredients are here for us to be successful’- Campbell Football Coach Mark Pemberton

Cougar Head Coach Mark Pemberton is the third winningest active football coach in the state of Tennessee with 250 victories.

By Jim Freeman

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- It did my heart good to hear new Campbell Coach Mark Pemberton brag about his first Cougar football team. Oh, he didn’t reach for his wallet to show photos, but give him time. “We have good size up front on the offensive and defensive lines, on both sides of the ball, got some good players in there. Skill guys? We’ve got as good a skill guys as I’ve had in my career, probably with the exception of one or two. I think all the ingredients are here for us to be successful,” said Pemberton. However, you have to understand. Mark Pemberton doesn’t sprinkle any sugar.

“We gotta put it all together, and they all gotta think as a team; not worry about individual stats or anything of that nature,” said the veteran coach. If this team starts thinking like a team, working as a team, the sky is the limit. They all must be on the same page, according to Pemberton.

Weight room

Progress has been made in the weight room since Pemberton’s arrival in February. “We’ve gotten stronger in the weight room. If you’ve got guys who enjoy the weight room and work hard in the weight room, then the majority of the time, you’re going to be successful,” said the first year coach.

The Cougars are beginning to understand how Pemberton does things. “I’ve hammered how important the weight room is, and I think we’re headed in the right direction as far as that goes,” said Pemberton.

Coach Mark Pemberton, who quarterbacked his Rockwood Tigers to the 1976 state football title, is a hands on coach.

Discipline & Efficiency

Pemberton’s teams, the 2024 Cougars included, are disciplined and efficient. “We do a good job in practice. You know the quicker we get our work done, the shorter the practice is,” said Pemberton. Eventually, when this team gets to really rolling, practices will be an hour and a half to an hour and forty-five minutes, according to the coach who has 250 career wins.

“We’re moving all the time, and the cooler temperatures (morning practices) help with that, too, if you’re not out in the heat of the day. I think they’re going to catch on to it,” said Pemberton.

Coaches

The coaching staff consists of four assistant coaches and Pemberton. “I’ve been pleased with the coaches we’ve picked up. I feel like we have a good group of coaches,” said Coach Pemberton.

Taylor Ownbey, Defensive Coordinator- Ownbey played at Rhea County when the Eagles made their state semi-final play off runs and later served as Pemberton’s defensive coordinator.

Bradley Goodwin, Outside linebackers & Running Backs- Goodwin was an all-state linebacker for Pemberton at Rhea County

Mark Romero, Offensive & Defensive lines- Romero was on Pemberton’s first Knox Catholic team to play for a state championship and has been coaching with Pemberton for more than 10 years.

Coach Mark Proffitt works with linemen at Thursday morning’s practice. Hayden Rice is 53, 50 is Trey Wilson and 40 is Josh Ramsey.

Mark Proffitt, Wide Receivers & Defensive line- Proffitt and Pemberton were teammates on the same college football team at Tennessee Tech. Proffitt is a veteran high school and middle school football coach and serves as a volunteer coach on Pemberton’s staff.

“Obviously, we’ll add coaches, if we can, as the years go on here as our numbers go up. This is very similar to the way we went into Rhea County. We had about 50 players on the roster the first year. That’s about what we have on the roster right now,” said the head coach. It’s a process that takes time, and we want to try and get off to a good start and be successful in this first year, because that helps accelerate the process a little bit, according to Pemberton.

Community support

“I really appreciate all the support we’ve had in the community so far and our parents. Our parents have been sending in drinks and snacks for ’em after practice which is very important. The overall help we’ve had in the community, so far, has been tremendous,” said the coach.

It takes everybody to get a program up to where it needs to be, Pemberton stated. So far, it’s panning out, and we’re getting a lot of things done, he said

“Brad Collette, Campbell’s Athletic Director, did a great job getting everything organized to give everyone (athletic teams) a share of the county’s investment into the school’s athletic program. I like to see all the sports be successful, because when that happens it keeps all our kids in the community and keeps them involved,” said Pemberton.

“I’m thankful to our school board and commission, our director of schools and principals for the things they’ve done,” said Coach Pemberton.

Even though Pemberton’s not a sugar coater, Campbell could still have a sweet 50th football season. That is, if all the ingredients come together.

A NOTE FROM THE GRAND ON CENTRAL: “There is so much good going on in our community, and I want to share all this good with you every Monday here on WLAF in hopes that you will start your week in a grand way making each week a Grand Week,” said Olivia Lobertini, owner of The Grand on Central.

Below, take a visit through The Grand on Central.

For bookings, email Olivia Lobertini ohlobertini03@gmail.com. Check on avails HERE. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 07/15/2024-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S CHARLIE HUTSON)