Story By Cinthia Rico
The Section Lions recently welcomed Riley Edwards as the program’s next head coach.
“This season will start my 20th season as a football coach and as a seasoned coach,” said Edwards. “I am motivated in helping be a part of building an overall athletic program at Section, not just in football but in all sports.”
Additionally, Edwards is also looking forward to developing men that
will be good citizens and community members once they leave our program.
“Small schools need every athlete, and I look forward to working with all the other coaches to reach a common goal,” he expressed.
Edwards has subbed for half days twice a week as he familiarizes himself with the student-athletes, taking the opportunity to evaluate them before coming on board full-time in the fall.
Regarding the move from 5A to 2A, Edwards said he is familiar with
the regions from his time coaching at Collinsville High School.
“To me, the only difference in this 2A Region and 5A is the number of players on the roster,” he noted. “It’s good football at both levels.”
Looking ahead, Edwards is looking forward to establishing trust and building a relationship with his players.
“Our attendance and time together will be crucial from now until we begin fall practice,” he said. “We have to figure out what fits us and start building it.”
In 2022 the Lions finished with a 1-9 record in Class 2A, Region 7, with their last playoff appearance in 2020.
Edwards is a 2000 graduate of Collinsville High School, earned his undergraduate degree from Auburn University in 2003, and 2006 his Master’s from the University of Alabama.
“I spent 16 years coaching football at Collinsville with 14 of
those years as defensive coordinator, three years coaching football at Crossville,” he noted.
“Coaching is a family business, as my dad Coach Johnnie Mack Edwards, is a former football coach at Sylvania and Collinsville. My cousin Mike Riley has had coaching stops at San Diego Chargers, Oregon State, and Nebraska, while Uncle Hayden Riley was a former basketball and baseball coach at Alabama.”
Over the years, Edwards has developed many close contacts and mentors apart from his father and cousin, including Tom Allen and Jeff Mclnerey at Indiana, Ernie Willingham, Allen Beckett, Sam Graham, Rusty Jacoway, and Steve Smith.
“They are all great coaches but are also great men that build more than
just football within their programs,” he said. “I hope to bring more than just the x and o aspect of the program.”
