Ep 1 | Built for More: The Hunt Begins

In the premiere episode of The Korey Mobbs Coaches Show, Coach Korey Mobbs sits down with Dr. Frank Cox to discuss his coaching journey and the transformation of Jackson County football into a program built for sustained success. Coach Mobbs breaks down the Panthers’ offseason, their challenging scrimmage against Mill Creek, key returning players, emerging young talent, and what he expects as the 2026 season gets underway. Together, Coach Mobbs and Pastor Frank explore the heart behind the team’s “Hunt” mentality and “Built for More” message, a vision focused not only on winning football games, but on developing young men of character who make an impact beyond the field.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:08

Welcome to the Corey Mobbs Coaches Show where we cover Jackson County Panthers football. My name is Frank Cox, chaplain of Jackson County Panthers, and pastor of North Metro Baptist Church in Brascliffe. And tonight I want to welcome you to this inaugural program, which we plan to bring to you weekly during this exciting football season. So tonight I want to welcome Coach Corey Mobbs of the Jackson County Panthers. Dr.

SPEAKER_01 0:33

Cox, appreciate you having me on.

SPEAKER_00 0:35

It's going to be exciting this year. And uh and Corey, I let's just lay it out there. You and I have known each other a long time. Uh we our days together go back to the Collins Hill days when you were a young and rising successful assistant coach. But you know, there's some things I noticed back then, and uh, and that was that you had it in you, whatever it was. And that was that you had a a desire, you had the ability, you had the talent, uh, and probably led you to eventually become the head coach at Jackson County High School. Uh I want you, if you will, just for a few moments to that, give the fans and the listeners a view of Coach Mobbs and his coaching journey to eventually become our head coach at Jackson County.

SPEAKER_01 1:22

Yeah, Dr. Cox, you you mentioned Collins Hill. So I got my start at Collins Hill High School after graduating from Sanford University, and through some connections of my coaches at Parkview High School, um, somehow they decided they were going to hire me at Collins Hill as a ninth grade coach. And uh Coach Larry Sherrill uh was the first head coach that I worked for. Um just a great man that taught me so many things about how to treat people and how to respect uh the kids that were in our program and um learned so much from him. But probably a turning point for me was was that those couple years I spent as a as a freshman coach. Um we had three coaches and we had 50 plus young men in the program of our freshman program. And so uh here I was. I didn't know a thing about football, but I I was able to uh kind of coach it all. And um what a great experience that was. And uh Coach Cheryl moved me up pretty quick uh to the varsity staff, and and I was able to work with the defensive backs. Uh current head football coach at Collins Hill High School, Drew Swick, was one of our athletes, um and went on to a playing career at Presbyterian. Um Coach Cheryl retired at Collins Hill, and Billy Wells, who was our defensive coordinator, took over. Um, and I'm getting so old I I kind of lose count of the years. Um but we spent uh two more years at Collins Hill High School and then had the opportunity to go with Billy and one of our other assistants at Collins Hill to uh open Lanier High School in 2010. And man, what an experience that was. You know, we we used to look around in the office and say, uh, you know, we felt like we'd seen it all, but every day brought a new uh man, we've never seen that before. But building a new school uh builds character in so many ways for a coach. But at a young age, I was given leadership opportunities that probably I didn't deserve. Um, but I think I'd earned those uh, you know, through hard work. So spent 12 years at Lanier High School, uh, seven years as the head coach after Billy moved on to North Hall. Um and then uh a little uh cross-state uh journey to Knoxville Catholic High School in Knoxville for two years. Uh COVID uh made us all do some crazy things, and and I felt like I was ready for something new, uh, you know, a challenge for me personally. And so we moved to Knoxville for a couple years and did the private school thing. And I quickly realized that um, you know, I I'm a I'm a public school guy. Um I had been in a county that had done things a certain way, and and and so as I went to as I went to Knoxville, it was just a little different. And uh that's not a bad thing, just wasn't my fit. And so um the Jackson County job opened, and we're headed into year four at Jackson County, and it's been such a blessing for our family uh to be back locally and uh just to invest in this community. What an awesome community, a community that's growing in so many ways, and uh we've been so fortunate to see that grow.

SPEAKER_00 4:26

Well, the school's been blessed to have you as a coach. Last year was your third season, and uh man, we had a great year. Uh it was a breakout year for for Jackson County football. And I know you believe in your players. I know you got a great coaching staff. I mean, I just marvel at how how uh great of a staff you put together there. Uh a lot of those guys, some of those guys got head coaching experience, which uh that adds to the experience level uh at Jackson County. But looking back on last year's season, um kind of tell us about what you saw as the success of last year and what that means for this season.

SPEAKER_01 5:09

Yeah, I think I think when you look at last year, you really have to go back to year one. We had a a really good group of seniors uh that had not had a ton of success. Uh, but as soon as we we got in the doors in January of that year, really bought into the vision of what we were trying to do. And and it was it was nothing you know more than just hard work. And those guys really worked hard. And I think they kind of began the standard. You know, we didn't have um everybody on board when it came to those types of things, but we had some leaders in that group that really kind of set the tone. And so, you know, going into year two, we we were able to host a playoff game for the first time in school history um and did not win that playoff game. We we we got the the fortune to play the back-to-back uh state champs coffee and you know, gave them a ball game. Um, but that was a tough matchup for us. But I think seeing what it took when coffee came to our place two years ago, I think our guys realized that that there was another level for us to get to. And so so you go back to last year and and uh you know we we we knew that we had played some young folks uh the first couple years and and just a great group of leaders of hungry young men that were unselfish in everything that they did. Um and we were able to, you know, kind of uh you know, bust on the scene, I guess, you know, from a state standpoint. Um I I'm not sure anybody gave us credit um until uh you know the Milton victory. And then I believe that it was it was kind of um oh Jackson County. They might they might not be the same old Jackson County. So we're very fortunate that that we had the year we had last year, and and and we're hoping that catapults us into you know continued success here uh in 2026.

SPEAKER_00 6:49

Well, you get the taste of the playoffs. Uh the players uh they desire to get there, they desire to go as far as they can. Um I can remember when you first arrived at Jackson County, uh I was in the process of moving our church and I was trying to make the transition from uh being a chaplain at Collins Hill to being chaplain at Jackson County. And uh one night I was on the sideline with the athletic director, and um he made a an interesting statement to me. You know, I was talking about, you know, throwing accolades toward your way, and he the statement that he made to me was, and it's always stuck in my mind, it seems to be so strategic. He said, you know, I didn't hire Corey for the first year. I hired him for the year number three. And it was where the athletic director was saying, I realize it takes a little time to get your coaching staff in place, uh, and get the players all in the right position and uh get the them to buy into your philosophy of way of doing things. And uh that's good to have the support of the administration. And and so I guess a question that I would ask you is how do you view the program today uh to the program you came to, and how do you see the progression of the program to where you are now for the future?

SPEAKER_01 8:13

Yeah, I think it's it's twofold. I think you look at the young men that are in our program, they are conditioned, right? This this current class is uh a group that were freshmen when when we came in as a staff, and you know, we've made some changes staff wise, but really we continuity-wise, we're we have the exact same staff we had last year, which I think is so important from a consistency standpoint. Um, you know, so so the players, right? The buy-in there, and then also our staff. You know, a head coach is is only gonna be as good as as the staff that he has, and you know, they deserve all the credit. Um, you know, a lot of times the head coach is gonna get the credit. Um when we lose, the head coach is gonna get the blame, right? And and and rightfully so. Um but our staff deserves so much credit when it comes to the investment that they make in our players, how they coach them. Um, you know, we challenge them. Uh today was a day of challenging. Um, you know, we we we we feel like we didn't play our best in our scrimmage uh last Friday night, and our guys responded to that challenge because they know we love them. And I think that's big. And and probably the last thing I would say from a program standpoint, um, this is this is not an original thought, but but something I read a long time ago coaching-wise, is are you building a season or are you building a program? Because there's a difference, right? And in 2026, uh, I think we battle some things in in the high school game that maybe weren't here 10 to 15 years ago. And we and you know, we don't have to dive into that what those topics are, but I'm sure people can make you know their judgment on that. Um but you know, the the question is, are are you are you selling yourself for a great season, or are you not going to take shortcuts to build the program the right way? And that's kind of always who I've been and and really who I learned from uh going back to Coach Cheryl, going to Coach Wells. Um, you know, there's some some shortcuts that we didn't take um early on, and and maybe that hurts you, you know, uh in year one or year two, but I think it establishes and develops that program that you're trying to build.

SPEAKER_00 10:18

Well, you're doing a great job there. Let's let's uh let's talk a little bit about the scrimmage the other night. Uh one of the things I admire, and I've watched coaches over the the 31, 32 years I've I've been doing the championship for high school football, I noticed that there's two philosophies that coaches have. Uh there's the coach that says that I want to find some powder puff teams to play before we hit the region, so it builds confidence within the players, and so they're they're rocking along and they get get to be 5-0, and they all think they're they're winning the world, and then they hit the region play, and all of a sudden they lose that first game because they haven't been battle tested. And uh so last Friday night there were all these schools having their scrimmage games, and it was interesting to look across uh the North Atlanta region and see in what coaches took that route. You didn't take that route. You decided, okay, we're gonna up go up to the next region, and we're gonna play uh Mill Creek. And Mill Creek's got a storied uh history uh of being a perennial winner every year, being in the playoffs every year. They've only won one state championship, though, I think, but they they they're known as one of the top dogs in the largest region in the in the state. And so Corey Mobbs decides we're gonna play them. So we make a trek down a few miles from Jackson County to Gwinnick County, and we walk out on that field. Now, from my perspective, I I kind of felt like when we walked into the stands that Mill Creek still had a little bit of that, you know, well, we're gonna we're gonna kind of play y'all and you know send you back up to Jackson County. But our team, you had our team ready. You had them ready to compete. Now that there may have been a little bit of nerves uh the the first few plays because uh most of those guys had never played at Mill Creek and didn't realize the atmosphere. But the scrimmage was uh a good scrimmage uh to kind of show you where you were, uh and you tied them 21 to 21, uh, which in my view was a win. And in my view, uh we could have had two or three more touchdowns that night as well. Uh but what did this scrimmage do for the players, for the coaches? Uh what were the plus and minuses as we get ready for this Friday night opener?

SPEAKER_01 12:52

Well, I think first of all, you look at the scrimmage. I I I'll be honest, I'm not a huge fan of uh, you know, posts in a score on what the scrimmage is because nobody knows what the scenario is. Um, you know, our guy our guy's fault, you know, and we feel like we left some things out there. Um but you know what, Mill Creek's a great program. I I think it starts with the respect that we have for Coach Love Lady and their program, and that's why you scrimmage someone like that. And then they play in the highest classification in one of the best leagues that there is. And and we know to take our program to the next level, uh, we've got to be willing to compete with those folks. Now, um, that would not have been the case in year one or year two, and maybe even last year, uh, until we saw what our results were. And so I think what I was proud of is that our that our guys fought. Uh we certainly weren't perfect. Uh, we talked about it this morning in film session and first block. You know, there's a lot of things that we can clean up. And uh, you know, the beauty of that is if we clean those up, then then you know, that could have been that could have been a really positive thing for us at the scrimmage. Um and again, that goes back to the scrimmage doesn't count, so I'm not sure why you wouldn't challenge yourself. And and I think, you know, I think uh I think Coach Love Lady knows that we're a little bit of a different program than maybe you know what Jackson County has been in the past. So uh we had a great day of practice. Um we're very positive in how we approached improvement. Um we challenged our guys. Um and and that you know that that that happens in different ways, right? The relationships as coaches that we have with our players, you know, some guys you push their buttons one way and and and maybe in another way to another player. And so that's what's special about the program that we've continued to build and the relationship that our coaches have with our players is we've got to push those right buttons. And uh the goal is to be ready for Friday night, and uh that's where we're headed.

SPEAKER_00 14:38

Well, I tell you what, this week we open up uh against uh North for Scythe at at uh Jackson County Stadium and uh game begins at 7:30. So as we prepare for this Friday night, let us get into the coach's head just a little bit for a few minutes and allow you to kind of set up the season for the fan base of uh of Jackson County, what you're expecting from the team as they continue to buy in uh to your leadership and to the program, what you expect from your offense, from your defense, special what do step special teams mean to y'all as well. Uh what what are the players that we need to watch out for this year that that are kind of uh leading the the charge for the team, uh the depth of the team, and just give us a 30,000 foot view of Jackson County football.

SPEAKER_01 15:29

Sure. We uh we return um you know a good number of of young men that were that had some some really good years for us last year. And we we say all the time that what we did last year, you know, does not have any indication on this year. We've got to continue to work and earn it. Um, you know, and I think uh rightfully so, team captain um returning um almost 2,000 yard rusher Dalen Maxwell gets a lot of the credit for us offensively and and uh you know there's been some articles written about him uh lately. Uh he is he's kind of the heartbeat of of who we are on the offensive side of the ball. Um he is very close to to breaking the career rushing record at Jackson County, which is held actually by his brother. Um and so that that's exciting, you know, and obviously we we're we're we're praying that that you know that happens and and we stay healthy in that regard. But but Dalen is a throwback young man that is uh just one of the toughest kids that I've coached. Um and I think he's got a bright future in this game and and he leads us by how he works. You know, he's he he doesn't speak very much. Um but a lot of times that's that's that's how you want your leaders. And so we're excited about having him back. You know, obviously in the backfield, he's he's joined by Jason Lee, who's also quite a talent for us, and um, you know, has kind of shared some carries with Dalen. Um Jason is a junior and also playing on the defensive side of the ball for us. Um what we've been excited about is where there have been some voids and some holes. We've got some guys that are you know kind of take uh spot duty on both sides of the ball, and and we're still trying to figure out how that all kind of meshes uh with who needs to go where. And I think the scrimmage was a big indicator of that. So, you know, we're excited about the the potential offensively and the then defensively, um, you know, we return our entire secondary and our two inside backers. Uh Mayor Magnus, another team captain, leads us on that side of the ball. Uh next to him, Noah Beatty uh at inside backer had a really good sophomore year for us. And then the guys in the secondary, um, you know, Ty Mobbs and Bryce Garrison, uh, multi-year starters at safety. And so that'll be the strength of what we do defensively. And and those that that were at the scrimmage Friday night, um, you know, we've got about seven or eight guys that were rolling on the defensive line that are very capable. We've got to figure out what that rotation looks like. And and that's you know, that's why they put, we say as a staff, put coach in front of our name. We've got to coach them up and get them right. So we're excited about that process, and uh we'll continue to embrace it. But we're excited, looking forward to the season, and and that's kind of a snapshot of us on offense and defense.

SPEAKER_00 18:10

Well, you know, coach, I notice that every year coaches come up with themes. They come up with with something they want the players to rally around. This year, your theme is hunt. Yes, sir. Talk to us a little bit about that.

SPEAKER_01 18:23

Yeah, so we kind of established the idea that we are always on the hunt. Um, you know, if we ever get complacent about where we are as a program and who we are as a program, then there's always always someone around us that's working harder, right? So we want to continue to have that hungry attitude. And then so as we introduced that last year, that kind of became who we are. And so we're we're sticking with that. Um and we've added that to that as a program. We truly believe in 2026 that we are built for more. And that includes obviously on the field, but also off the field and the things that we do in the classroom, the things that we do in the community, how we treat each other, how we how we build each other up, the relationships, the positive relationships that we have with each other, uh, with our families, and also in our community. And and I really believe um, you know, obviously this is a calling for me as as the head football coach, but you know, to continue to have the energy in year 22, and and and listen, I realize I'm talking to the dean of all energy when it comes to uh careers, uh Dr. Cox in the ministry. But I but I really feel like the the energy that this program and being here in Jackson County has provided me is a breath of fresh air. And so we want to continue to you know raise that bar. And I really feel like our guys, obviously on the field, are built for more as a program, and we know that means more wins and and you know going deeper into the playoffs, but also our guys are built for more in how they live and in their community, and uh that is as important to me as the victories on the field.

SPEAKER_00 20:00

Well, Corey, you are you're you're building a great program. And uh, you know, you've always heard every one of us who've ever competed in sports that that uh especially in football, that is to build character, integrity. Uh and you know, you you see that in some programs, and other programs you see that kind of uh lag behind as winning the games or everything uh to them. But uh one of the things I've been impressed with at Jackson County is you and your coaches, uh you all seem to be guys of character. Uh you seem to be guys that that put a premium on integrity. And you know, sometimes you can teach that, but a lot of times it's just called and when you get around somebody that I know my head coach is walking right, I know my my my uh line coach is walking right, my back coach is walking right, and you see them every day pouring in that character and that integrity uh that builds into manhood. And um you are uh doing a tremendous job there at Jackson County that that the average family would want their boy to play for you and uh because of the way that you lead the team. Uh I noticed something the other night that I want to just take a couple of minutes to talk about and that is your conditioning program seems to be doing tremendous in your players. It's kind of like you walk you walk off the field after last year and uh you see that team and then you come back and you walk on the field with them for this season. They look like they grown up. They look like they put on the the body mass they need. They look like some of those guys seem to have shot up a foot or two. Uh talk I noticed this the other night. Talk to us a little bit about it. Backups because I saw some on defense that boy they they stood out as a backup coming in there making plays.

SPEAKER_01 22:09

Yeah, we're we're excited about our our young guys. Um, you know, we are the depth that we have in the program I think has improved every year. We currently have 72 freshmen in the program. 72. 72. And that's that's a bigger number than I've ever had as a head coach going back to Collins Hill. I was not a head coach there, but we didn't have 72 in the program. And so um just you know, I think it's indicative of uh, you know, the the area, right? The growth. Um also you can tell that there's a new school that'll be opening uh next year um to relieve some of those numbers. But you know, with that being said, I think the the energy and the want to around the program is as high as it's ever been. And and you know, that's a testament to you know what's been built and the players and and how they've invested. So yes, we we're excited about a lot of our young guys, you know, and I think I think what's hard is is when you have good players in front of you, you have to trust the process and and really buy into I'm gonna learn from that great example that's in front of me, so that when I step in, there is no drop off, right? And ex my my you know goal as a backup is when I step in, I'm even better. And I think our guys have have embraced that. And uh, you know, we've got some good leadership from our seniors that are that are helping out some of those sophomores, some of those juniors, some of those freshmen. We've got some freshmen up with us. You know, they're some of the big guys you're talking about. Um and you and you look at them and you say, Wow, those people, those guys are freshmen. That's crazy. Um, and so you know, there's a bright future here at Jackson County, and uh we got to coach them up and get ready to play football.

SPEAKER_00 23:44

Number 11. I I don't know his name yet, but he was playing tight end. Somebody told me, does he also play some quarterback every now and then? He does, yes. But that is a horse of a guy. He is like a great player.

SPEAKER_01 24:00

He's a big young man for a freshman, Eli Knight, um 6'5, almost 6'6, about 225, 230. Uh played him at tight end. Um he has played some quarterback as well. And and I think, you know, obviously one of the one of the young guys that has a very bright future among many others. And uh, you know, we're excited about watching him and those guys continue to develop.

SPEAKER_00 24:21

Well, if he's a freshman, he's still got some growth spurts to go through. So I imagine by the time he's a senior, he's gonna be uh even a greater player out there. So that that's that's bright. Well, it's gonna be a great season uh for Jackson County football. Uh it's gonna be a great season for the school, for the county, uh building a great reputation of a place where winners go. Uh you're building something special there uh that sometimes you only experience once in a lifetime. And so what do you need from the Panther Nation? What do you need from the fans? What do you what do you look for for from them to come out to make even a greater greater atmosphere?

SPEAKER_01 25:00

Yeah, sure. This year is it's time for us to take it to the next level. And and I and I I look back at last year and really Halloween night region championship, the electric atmosphere, and from then on until the middle of November, which I think in Jackson County was a far cry from maybe what people thought we could play into. Um and the just the atmosphere. Uh Thanksgiving Friday. Uh, you know, you think you're you're gonna have a smaller crowd because it's Thanksgiving the day before, and the crowd was even bigger. And I think that's that's that's so important for our community to continue to grow from an energy standpoint. Everybody wants to see a winner, right? That's the goal. We want to win, and we want to win now and win more. And uh all of that enthusiasm and energy that this community brings on a Friday night, you know, the the atmosphere that our cheerleaders bring, the atmosphere that the brand uh the band brings, like that, that that's a big deal. And we feel like, you know, everybody in Jackson County gets along and uh we're all in this thing together. So let's continue to raise the bar with our environment on Friday nights.

SPEAKER_00 26:05

Well, I tell you what, Coach Mobbs, it's uh it's a great program. Uh you're right. It's the school system's a unique system. And uh all those is is fun on Friday night to see even some of the administration of the school system on the sideline, rooting on uh Jackson County. And you got something to be proud of. And the players are bigger and they're stronger. Uh I'm sure you got more college scouts starting to show up around practice, and uh, we'll be at the games to watch some of our players that uh that are gonna make it to the next level. And so it's gonna be fun to watch uh Panther football this year, and it's gonna be great uh as a coach, as players, uh, and as fans to come and be a part of the hunt. So we're looking forward to a great season. Thank you for being here tonight. We look forward to every week hearing from you and uh and also maybe bring some players in every now and then and let's kind of highlight them. So thanks for being here. And for the fans, we encourage you to be there. Uh be loud, uh, be enthusiastic, and uh let's cheer our team on to victory this year.