NEWPORT-Veteran Cocke County teacher and coach Larry Ellis Williams was named Cocke County High School principal on Friday by Cocke County Director of Schools Manney Moore.

The new principal replaces R. Gary Williams (no relation), who leaves the post to accept a new position in the school system.

Larry Williams was chosen from a field of five candidates, the others being current CCHS Assistant Principal Steve Ball, CCHS chemistry and biology teacher Dr. Mitzy Hall, and two out-of-county applicants Dr. Robert Vick and D. Gregory Bullock.

In announced Williams' selection, Moore said, "I'm looking forward to working with Mr. Williams, as we seek to move Cocke County High School forward. I want to thank the other candidates for the interest they showed in the position. We had good candidates for the job."

Williams moves into the principal's position from his current assignment as a CCHS assistant principal in charge of the daily operations of Ben W. Hooper Vocational School.

Prior to that he taught business and economics at CCHS.

He began his teaching career in 1972 as a math and business teacher at Parrottsville High School and transferred to CCHS when the two schools were consolidated in the 1970s.

He is well-known across the state as a long-time football coach and has served as CCHS athletic director since 1985.

The son of Ima Kate Williams, Newport, and the late Ellis Williams, he is married to the former Kim Johnson Allen.

He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in business from East Tennessee State University, his Master of Arts degree from Tusculum College, and his EdS from Lincoln Memorial University.

Williams becomes the fifteenth principal of the school since its opening in the fall of 1917 as Central High School, according to Cocke County Historian E. R. Walker III. In addition to the fifteen principals, the late Richard "Dick" Nodell served as interim principal for a short time during the 1970s.

The school's assistant principals have not been named. According to Moore, Williams will make those selections.