Georgiana Principal Keith York has one of the easier and harder jobs since having been named principal less than a month ago.

Now that York has been named principal, replacing the late Roland Pettie, York has been working on trying to find a new head football coach to take his place.

"I would make it one of my easier decisions because I've been a head coach and athletic and know the ins and outs of it," York said. "I know what the good ones look like. If you have been in that field, it would certainly make it easier to fill that position."

York was head football coach at Georgiana for five seasons. Last season he led the Panthers to a Class 2A berth in the playoffs. Georgiana's postseason life was cut short in the opening round when it fell to Luverne.

And the cupboard is certainly not bare. York's replacement will have a proven team returning with one of the top running backs in the state as the nucleus. Zane Stackhouse rushed for more than 2,300 yards and 23 touchdowns in his junior season.

York said that he has had several inquires about the vacant post.

"I've talked to a few folks, so I'm trying to find the best fit for the job," he said.

So far York said he has interviewed four people for the head coaching job, but would not say who they are.

York did say that he hopes to have a recommendation for the Butler County Board of Education by its next meeting, which is June 16.

"I want to make that recommendation by then if at all possible," he said. "The quicker we can get them around the kids, the better it will be for us in the fall."

The new coach will already be at a disadvantage since he will not have had a chance to coach the Panthers in the spring. McKenzie head football coach David Kirkland can certainly identify with that situation.

Kirkland took over the Tiger football program in July and went on to lead McKenzie to a 1-9 season.

Those York have talked to have been coaches within and outside the state of Alabama, he said.

"I've had some very good inquires about the job," York said. "I feel good about getting a solid person, teacher and coach."

York did say some of his interviewees have reached finalist status, but he said that he will interview right up to the last hour before giving a recommendation to interim superintendent Wayne Boswell.

"I'm not setting a hard-fast date where I'm going to cut off interviews," York said. "I'm going to interview as many as I can."