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The Butler County Board of Education hired two teachers on Friday, men who will serve as head football coach and athletic director at Greenville High School and McKenzie High School.

Brian Bradford comes to McKenzie High from Stanhope Elmore High School, where he worked as head coach and athletic director and taught Algebra, Physical Education and Weight Training.

“This is very exciting,” Bradford said. “McKenzie has a long tradition of ball teams and just a good cultural feeling, so to be able to come to a place like that and carry on that tradition is very challenging and encouraging.”

As a Troy University graduate, Bradford brings the abilities needed to take the school’s athletic program forward and plans to concentrate on improving the entire program.

“At Stanhope Elmore, we had a lot of sports,” Bradford said. “McKenzie is a smaller program, so it’s going to be a lot easier to be able to get involved in so many different small teams.”

The school board also promoted Garrick Pimienta, elevating him from Greenville High’s offensive coordinator to head coach and athletic director.

Pimienta said he could see God’s hand in the shift and was excited for the opportunity to move forward with improving the school’s programs.

“God has a way of making things work,” Pimienta said. “Under certain circumstances we can feel some uncertainty behind it but I definitely see God’s divine intervention. So, I’m excited about this opportunity.”

The coach served as offensive coordinator last fall, but told the board, players, and parents gathered at Friday’s meeting he had always dreamed of being head coach.

“It’s a bit of an unusual situation, but I’ve been keeping the boys going all offseason,” he said.

The Tampa native was linebacker at Huntingdon College and looks forward to leading the team in the high school’s new stadium this fall.

“It’s going to be a beautiful venue,” Pimienta said.

Greenville and McKenzie football teams were present for the announcement. Eiland challenged the players to cheer in unison, a resounding “Go Tigers!’

School board member Wayne Boswell said the community is excited to bring the two coaches on board.

“We’re excited about the athletic programs, especially building school spirit,” Boswell said.