Pell City’s new head football coach has told supporters that he’s looking forward to the challenge of rebuilding a winning program.

“I don’t think it’s going to be that hard,” David Shores said shortly after he was hired Tuesday as the Panthers’ coach and athletic director.  “This place is hungry to get going on the right track, and we’re going to get better as we improve on what’s already been done here.”

Members of the Pell City Board of Education unanimously chose Shores after receiving more than 90 applications for the position vacated by Jay Brown late last year.  Shores began work at the high school Wednesday and said he plans to have next season’s coaching staff in place by the start of spring training.

“This is a great night to be a Panther,” Superintendent Bobby Hathcock said during a reception for the new coach.  “We got the best guy we can get to lead our program and give our people the best chances to succeed.”

He called on students, teachers, parents, and the community to support the school’s athletic programs.  “I make no apologies about wanting to win, and we’re going to beat some folks this fall.”

Sporting a Panthers cap presented to him by the superintendent, Shores said coming to Pell City represents a period of renewal for him.  “What attracted me to Pell City was a great community and great tradition.  Coaching young people is my life, and I’m ready to get to work.  I want every athletic program at this school to be as great as it can be.  If you don’t want to be great, you don’t want to see me coming.”

A graduate of Etowah County High School and Auburn University, Shores has served as a recruiter for Louisiana Southern University during Nick Saban’s tenure there and as an assistant coach at Opelika, Hoover, Pelham, and Spain Park high schools.  His most recent position was head coach at Spain Park, where he posted two winning seasons following a 4-6 finish in his first year there.

Shores left Spain Park after being placed on administrative leave following what school officials called a “physical incident” involving him and a player during a football practice.  The coach said that he was attacked by the player and did not fight back and apparently alluded to the incident after being introduced to supporters at Tuesday’s reception.

“Parents, I want you to feel comfortable knowing that when your kids are here with me at this school, they’re safe,” he said.