Braden River hires football coach

BRADENTON — For Don Purvis, the Braden River High head football job was perfect. He felt drawn to what he perceived a unique situation and applied for the position.

Seeking a person who would put his roots down, the school’s administration apparently felt the same way about the 34-year-old and offered him the job last week. He accepted a few days later and becomes the third head coach for a program that is entering its fourth season of varsity play.

“I wanted to be part of the solution,” Perkins said from just outside Memphis where he currently teaches. “I can sympathize with the situation these young men are in and what they had to endure the last couple of years. I was impressed with their resilience and the way they dealt with it.”

The program lost assistant coach Doug Garrity in a fatal car accident in March 2009. Head coach Josh Hunter, who was driving the vehicle, resigned last May. He was replaced by Ed Volz, who quit after one season.

“I was very drawn to their situation and how they handled themselves,” Purvis said. “I want the players to know there is a new coach coming to town that puts them No. 1 outside of my faith and family. I am in this for the long haul.”

Purvis was a defensive line coach at Bayshore High for one year (2003) under Raymond Woodie when the Bruins had a program best 10-2 record and went to the second round of the playoffs for the only time in school history.

He was an assistant coach at First Assembly Christian just outside Memphis for three years and varsity head coach the past three years compiling a 24-12 record and reaching the state semifinals twice. He currently has four former players on the University of Memphis squad.

“It’s been a goal for my wife and I to come back to Bradenton. We knew it was the place we wanted to live long term and put our roots down,” Purvis said. “What draws us back there the most is the people. We were there for such a short period of time and met some of the best friends we still have.

“I am leaving a very good situation here, and I wouldn’t do it if this wasn’t something I wanted to do long term. My wife (Leah) has a good job here.”

Purvis grew up in the New Orleans area, moved to Florida for high school and played receiver at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale. He played the position for four years at Rhodes College, a Division III school in Memphis, and then played two years in the former European Football League. He was a two-time all-conference selection at Rhodes.

“He is definitely a diamond in the rough,” said Woodie, now an assistant coach at Western Kentucky. “He is not just a drill sergeant, but a teacher and can do it all. He is a winner on the field and in the classroom.”

Braden River High athletic director Bob Bowling said the school received resumes from 98 applicants and the search committee narrowed the list down to four who came in for personal interviews.

“He is a man of great moral character and a pretty good football coach,” Bowling said. “He has quite a list of accomplishments for a young guy, and we are fortunate to get him. He leads by example and commands respect. He got a letter from the Tennessee officials association that his team never received a personal foul in three years.”