Interview With Coach Tyler Vann
Interview With Coach Tyler Vann
By Arlan “Monk” Blevins
The local high school football season is fast approaching, and we will be talking with Dekalb County /Jackson County coaches to get to know them a little better. Some are legends, and some will be. Some you already know, and some are new to the area. This article is the fourth in a series of coach interviews. This week we will be speaking with Coach Tyler Vann, head coach of the Woodville Panthers.
- Where are you from, and where have you coached?
I grew up in Higdon, AL, and graduated from North Sand Mountain High School. I have coached at North Sand Mountain, Arab, Scottsboro, and Buckhorn.
- What coach had the most influence on you as an athlete and a person?
Adam Gilbert has had the biggest influence on me as an athlete and a person. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the impact he has had on my life.
- What made you get into coaching?
It has always been my dream to be a head football coach. The opportunity to change young people’s lives is why I got into coaching.
- Besides hard work and commitment, what is the most critical principle for success that you try to instill in your players?
We try and instill discipline into our players. We talk about doing small things the right way every day. Our saying is, “If we do small things, we do all things.” We preach small things regularly, from keeping their locker the correct way, to cleaning the weight room and making sure the weights are racked the correct way, to getting lined up and taking the correct first step on the football field.
- Do you enjoy coaching as much, more, or less than you did playing, and why?
I would say I enjoy coaching more than I enjoyed playing. It is special when you see players grow on and off the field.
- What has been the biggest obstacle of the Covid-19 pandemic for you as a coach?
The biggest obstacle for me was getting to know the players. I got hired in the middle of the pandemic, and I had to get to know the players via Google meet.
- What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
- If I am not on the football field, I enjoy spending time with my wife, Hannah Vann. My number one hobby would be fishing.