Assistant with previous head coaching
experience at North Iredell promoted
By CHRIS HOBBS
HobbsDailyReport.com
STATESVILLE – West Iredell High moved quickly after losing its head football coach of the last five seasons, naming Shannon Ashley its interim head coach.
Ashley was an assistant coach under Monte Simmons — who resigned Monday to become head coach at West Caldwell – and was previously a head coach at North Iredell.
Ashley guided North Iredell to three consecutive 2-9 records, starting in 2008.
Simmons came to West Iredell after a long tenure as an assistant coach at Hibriten, replacing Mike Natoli. Simmons continued to live in Lenoir while coaching West Iredell.
West Iredell went 6-6 last season and reached the state playoffs with the record stopping a seven-year run of losing seasons.
In his first four seasons at West Iredell, Simmons guided the Warriors to records of 0-11, 3-8, 5-7 and 5-6. They have posted four straight fourth place finishes in the Northwestern Foothills 2A.
West Caldwell and West Iredell are scheduled to play a conference game at West Caldwell on Oct. 9.
The Northwestern Foothills 2A – an eight-team league — now has four teams with new head coaches: Derrick Minor at East Burke, Eric Shehan at Patton, Simmons at West Caldwell and Ashley at West Iredell.
WEST CALDWELL HIRES SIMMONS: https://hobbsdailyreport.com/west-caldwell-high/breaking-news-west-caldwell-makes-change-in-head-football-coaches/
