Webb to begin search for new head football coach

Bryant Baucom, Henderson (N.C.) Daily Dispatch
Updated ·2 min read

Mar. 31—OXFORD — Forcing turnovers on the gridiron is imperative to success, but facing turnover on the coaching staff makes for constant change.

For the second consecutive season, J.F. Webb football will have a new head coach. On Thursday, first-year head coach Eli Sessoms announced his departure, as he will be the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach at South Garner High School.

A former Southern Durham standout, Sessoms earned a degree in communications from Fayetteville State University, where he spent three seasons as a wide receiver before finishing his career in 2013 at Winston-Salem State under Connell Maynor.

Sessoms took over at Webb for Lamont Robinson, who spent two years at the helm, after spending time at Durham's Riverside High School as the wide receivers coach.

Sessoms spent just one season in Oxford, leading the Warriors to a 1-8 record in a campaign that was derailed by injuries. They were forced to forfeit a contest against Louisburg due to injuries and rostered just 27 healthy athletes.

Starting quarterback Braden Cooper went down with a season-ending injury in week one, leaving an offensive scheme to be filled.

With Sessoms in town, Webb implemented a spread offense in an attempt to fit the style and strengths of their roster. The new-look attack often features the quarterback in the shotgun formation as the offense "spreads" the opposing defense with multiple wide receiver sets.

The injury to Cooper and a plethora of health-related issues caused the Warriors' roster to dwindle as the season neared an end.

Their lone victory on the season came in Northern Lakes Athletic Conference play against Granville Central. A 12-0 shutout against the Panthers marked their best all-around performance of the season and gave them a perfect record against their league opponent.

As Sessoms exits Oxford, the search for a new head coach is underway for the Warriors athletic department.

This will mark the third coach in three seasons for Webb as they seek their first winning season since 2008.

"We are looking to fill the position with someone who will be here for a successful [and] long run," said athletic director Alex Tharp. "Coach Sessoms did a great job laying a foundation and it is unfortunate he will not be able to grow with us moving forward. The next coach will be in a great position to be at Webb for a long time."

If interested, reach out to Webb Athletic Director Alex Tharp (tharp@gcs.k12.nc.us) for more information.