HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Former Maiden player leaving Shelby to guide Freedom - Hobbs Daily Report

FREEDOM’S FOOTBALL COACHING HISTORY
Years Coach Seasons
1973-82 Jug Wilson* 10
1983-84 Ken Treadway 2
1985-86 Mike Mabry 2
1987-90 Pete Stout 4
1991-1994 Johnny Anderson* 4
1995-2005 Tim McMahon 11
2006-2008 Jason Watson 3
2009-2012 Mike Helms 4
2013 Blair Hardin 1
20143-2016 Brandon Allen 3
2017 Jim Bob Bryant 1
2018-19 Luke Little 2
*–deceased
Note: Roger Baker also served as head coach during the 1993 season when Anderson was ill.
SOURCE: HobbsDailyReport.com research and files.

HobbsDailyReport.com

MORGANTON – Freedom High’s new head football coach played for one area power and has coached at another.

In a press release on Wednesday, the Patriots announced they’ve hired former Maiden player Justin Hawn – defensive coordinator at Shelby since 2013 – as the 12^th head football coach in school history.

He replaces Luke Little, who left after two seasons in Morganton to become head coach at Wilmington Laney.

HAWN

“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Hawn and his family to Freedom and our community,” Freedom principal Casey Rogers said in the press release from Burke County Public Schools. “As someone with ties to the Unifour area, we look forward to Coach Hawn bringing much needed stability to our football program.

“Coach Hawn comes to us from Shelby High School, where he has served as the defensive coordinator and been a part of six state championships over the last seven years.

“He’s obviously been a part of success his entire coaching career, and we look forward to him creating a football culture based on toughness, continuity, high character and excellence on and off the field.

“I feel strongly about his ability to lead our football program for many years to come. Go Big Red!”

Hawn played football and baseball at Maiden before attending North Carolina, where he earned a master’s of arts in teaching social studies and a bachelor’s of arts in history.

He did his student teaching at Northern Durham and joined the staff at Shelby in 2013.

Hawn has been defensive coordinator for the Golden Lions varsity and junior varsity since 2016 and also coached safeties and linebackers.

Shelby won state 2A or 2AA football titles in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019.

In 2017, Hawn was named a Star Teacher after having been selected by a top graduating senior at Shelby as an educator who impacted her life in education.

Hawn said several factors made the Freedom coaching position appealing: “The area is a beautiful place to live, work and raise a family. The reputation of the student-athletes at Freedom High is highly thought of throughout the state, and the administration and staff is dedicated to continue building a successful program.”

Freedom went 7-5 last season and to the state playoffs for the eighth straight time. The Patriots have reached the postseason 10 times in the last 11 seasons. They also qualified in 2011 but did not play after having too many ejections by North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) rules.

Hawn said he is ready to begin getting to know his players and the Freedom community.

“I want them first to know that I look forward to building relationships with each of them and that I plan on being here for the long-haul,” Hawn said. “My expectations for them are the same I have for the program as a whole. We will be men of character. We will do everything with 100 percent effort. We will be mentally and physically tough.

“We will be loyal to our team and school and we will be ambassadors in the community.”

Hawn is Freedom’s sixth head coach since 2006, following Jason Watson (three years), Mike Helms (four years), Blair Hardin (one year), Brandon Allen (three years), Jim Bob Bryant (one year) and Little (two years).

Hawn, like Watson, is a Catawba County native. Watson was a football star at Bunker Hill during his prep career.