The Haywood County Board of Education has approved Tommy Pursley as the new Head Football Coach for Tuscola High School. Travis Collins, principal of Tuscola High School, will introduce Coach Pursley to the coaching staff at 9:00 a.m. and the football team at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 15th.
The private team introductions will be followed by a press conference and meeting with the Tuscola High School Athletic Boosters, Tuscola High School Touchdown Club and football families. The press conference will begin at 10:00 a.m. in the Tuscola High School auditorium. The introduction to boosters, touchdown club members and football families will follow at 10:30 in the school cafeteria.
Information regarding Coach Howard “Tommy” Pursley:
- 2013 Defensive Coordinator Brevard College
- 1993-2012 Head Football Coach Northeast Guilford High School, McLeansville, NC
- Averaged 9 wins a year for 20 years
- 20 consecutive years in the playoffs
- 3rd longest winning streak in N.C.
- Won 7 Conference Championships
- 6 District Championships
- 3 Sectional Championships
- 2 Regional Championships
- 2 State Championship Game appearances
- Finished 1st or 2nd in the conference 16 of 20 years
- 1997 Eastern North Carolina Champions
- 1997 AAA State Championship Game
- 2008 State Semi-Finals
- Won 10+ games 7 seasons
- Won 180 games at Northeast Guilford
- Won 226 games as a Head Coach
- Was among the top 10 most wins among active coaches
- 10 Coach of the Year Awards
- 2003 Shrine Bowl Defensive Coordinator (N.C. defeated S.C.)
- 2000 East-West All Star Game Defensive Coordinator for the West (West defeated the East)
- 2000-2005 North Carolina Football Coaches Association Board of Directors
- 2007-Present National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame Board Member
- Speaker at a number of clinics including:
- Wake Forest
- East Carolina
- Appalachian State
- Catawba College
- 1987-1993 Head Football Coach & Athletic Director Trinity High School, Trinity, N.C.
- 1984-87 Head Football Coach & Athletic Director South Caldwell High School, Hudson, N.C.1979-1980
- Graduate Assistant Football Coach Appalachian State University, Boone, N.C.
- 1978-1979 Assistant Football Coach Watauga High School, Boone, N.C. – State Champions 1978
- 1976-1978 Assistant Football Coach Carroll County High School, Hillsville, VA
- Playing experience Defensive Back, Appalachian State University
Contact: Dr. Bill Nolte, Associate Superintendent