Are the Blackhawks Getting a New Head Football Coach? - TribPapers
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Are the Blackhawks Getting a New Head Football Coach?

Coach David Hines and Wife, Kelly, with their three sons.

North Buncombe David Hines is North Buncombe High School’s new head football coach. Hines is coming from the 4A Southern Alamance High School (Patriots), where he was the offensive coordinator. Yet, this isn’t Hines first head coaching job.

“I’ve done it (been a head coach) a couple of times, but I’m excited to be headed that way. [I’ve] lot of good experience over the last eight or nine years working with the staff I’ve been with,” explained Hines. “I feel ready to bring what’s made us a success to you guys.” This past season, the Patriots were 8-3 with a 4-1 conference record, losing their first-round playoff game at home. During the COVID-19 school year (20-21), the team was 4-3. Back in 2019, the team went 9-4 with a playoff win before losing their second-round playoff game.

“I feel like I can take all my past head coach experience, where maybe it didn’t go so well. I know a lot of things now I didn’t know back then,” Hines told the Tribune. “The man I’ve been under the last eight or nine years has taught me a lot, allowed me to grow as a coach. I now feel like I can do that for other coaches…I feel like I can put together a strong staff with who’s there. Maybe bring some guys in if we need to and just built that program up.”

“Hines has coached football and taught multiple subjects over a 20-year career,” stated a Buncombe County School press release. “I have had the honor and privilege to spend my career as an educator and coach serving students and communities across North Carolina,” Hines said in the release.

North Buncombe Athletic Director Chris Sherrill told the Tribune euphemistically, “He’s the guy you want to go to war with.” Sherrill went on to say Hines was “head and shoulders” above the other applicants.

Hines is coming into a North Buncombe program with some lean seasons on the football field in recent years. They had their last head coach, Brandon Allen, walk out on the team just weeks before the 2021-2022 football season. The Blackhawks were winless this past season, 4-3 during 2020-2021 and 6-6 with a 4-4 conference record in 2019-2020 season where they went to their last playoff game, losing to Northwest Cabarrus 56-21.

 According to the press release, “Hines said he is dedicated to supporting a dynamic school community and building a powerful program of successful student-athletes, on and off the field, with a reputation for hard work and excellence.”

“I would like to thank God for the amazing opportunities he has placed in my life throughout my career,” he said. “Without him, none of this is possible. I would also like to thank Dr. Sircey, Coach Sherrill, and the committee for putting their faith in me and giving me the opportunity to become part of this community!”

Black Hawk Family

Hines, who taught in Cherokee about 10 years ago, said he, his wife Kelly and their three sons are thrilled to join the Blackhawk family and be back in the mountains. A North Carolina native from Lexington, Hines said, “We knew eventually my wife and I wanted our family to be back in the mountains. We’d spent a little over two years in Cherokee. So we love living in the mountains…it kind of gets in your blood.”

Hines is taking his position at the school in a week or so. He looks forward to working with the players and coaches and looking ahead to better days on the field for the Blackhawks.