CARROLLTON - Steve Flemming will have his hands full this year at Carroll Academy.
With the school's inability to find a new head football coach and athletic director at the last minute, Flemming has added those duties to his already full plate.
During the first week of June, Jeff Walker stepped down as head football coach and athletic director to take a coaching job at Winona High School. Walker's departure came less than two months before the start of football practice.
With the time crunch, Carroll was unable to find a suitable replacement, and Flemming assumed the duties in early July.
Carroll Academy headmaster Carl Blaylock did not immediately return phone messages to the Commonwealth.
"I was here and had done this before, so I told (the administration) that I would give them one year in football. The morale of the guys in the weight room was so low, because they are thinking, oh, great, here we go again with a new coach," Flemming said.
"Given enough time, we will find a qualified candidate after football season. Some things would have to change if I were to keep football."
Since Tommy Nester left Carroll after the 1998 season, Flemming will be the sixth head football coach the school has had in eight years. During that time the Rebels have qualified just once for the playoffs and had one winning season.
Along with his new duties, Flemming will serve as principal, junior high head football coach, girls' varsity and junior high head basketball coach and boys' varsity basketball coach.
"I know it's too much to handle, but it's got to be done," said Flemming, who came to Carroll Academy last year as the boys' basketball coach and junior high football coach.
Flemming has spent most of his coaching career helping in football. His only year as a head varsity football coach came in 2000 at Central Holmes. Flemming was a standout high school quarterback and defensive end at Cruger-Tchula Academy and went on to play three years as a tight end at Mississippi State from 1977-79.
Before coming to Carroll, Flemming spent three years as the boys' head basketball coach at Pillow Academy. He also helped with junior high football and track.
