Ledger-Enquirer.com 04 15 2008 Wants to explore administrative opportunities

Ahmand Tinker, who coached the Cherokees for the past five years, said he has resigned as head coach and athletic director. Tinker said he wants to get into administration, and he is exploring opportunities around the state. I have enjoyed the camaraderie with the coaches," Tinker said. I am grateful for the opportunity that (Kendrick Principal) Dr.

Edward Barnwell and the Muscogee County School District gave me to become a head coach." The Cherokees are the fourth MCSD team to replace their coach this year. Columbus High, Northside and Hardaway have all already hired their next coach. Pacelli and Smiths Station also will have a first-year coach in the fall.

Over the last two seasons, coaching changes have been a common occurrence in the Bi-City as 10 of the 16 teams have replaced a coach. Central's Ron Nelson is the longest tenured Bi-City coach, having coached the Red Devils the last 10 years.

Carver coach Dell McGee, who has coached the Tigers for three years, will be the longest tenured coach at one MCSD school this fall. Messages left for Barnwell were not immediately returned. Tinker didn't have a lot of success on the field during his tenure with the Cherokees. He compiled a record of 13-37 and never made the state playoffs. His best season was in 2004 when the Cherokees went 4-6.

Even though Tinker didn't win a lot of games, his legacy at Kendrick will likely be his ability to get players a scholarship. During his five seasons, he had 37 players sign a scholarship, including having 27 sign over the last two seasons. Kendrick girls basketball coach Sterling Hicks has seen the impact that Tinker has made on the football team, whose last playoff appearance was 1999.

He has been able to make the kids work," Hicks said. He has gotten more out of them and has instilled discipline in them. But the biggest thing he has done is to get those kids into school." Tinker, who played football at Valdosta State, is going to miss some of the relationships that he has built at Kendrick. I will miss working with Roger Pritchard and Sterling Hicks," he said. We have a really good physical education department, and I'll miss those guys.

They are two good coaches and two outstanding teachers."

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