SUMMER PREPS: PIke Road takes different approach to offensive coordinators
Pike Road coach Granger Shook will have two offensive coordinators on the sideline this fall. (Tim Gayle)
By TIM GAYLE
With summer workouts underway, Pike Road coach Granger Shook is ready to se what new co-offensive coordinators Josh Clark and Corbin Stewart brings to the table.
The pair will replace Logan Colofrancesco, who took the head coaching position at Pinson Valley, leaving Shook with the option of either looking for another offensive coordinator or promoting from within.
“It’s kind of a double-edged sword,” Shook said. “You want to hire driven, motivated, quality men to come in here and impact these kids and this program and that’s what we’ve done. With that said, I also want to reward and promote coaches from within who have worked their tails off and proven themselves and have aspirations in their own right.
“It was really a no-brainer for me to promote Josh and Corbin to this role. Our kids are excited and they’re excited about it. It’s going to bring some stability to this program. I look forward to what they’ll bring to the table.”
It’s not like the Patriots have been unstable, but offensive coordinator is a position that has seen some turnover since Shook arrived in 2023.
Josh Thacker was hired from Prattville to take over the offense, but left after the season and was replaced by Jonathan Chandler. Chandler, in turn, was hired as the head coach at Catholic and was replaced by Colofrancesco.
Shook also had to replace Doug Jones, his middle school coach, with Garrick Pimienta, after Jones was hired as the head coach at his alma mater, LaFayette.
Clark has been with the Pike Road program since its inception, primarily serving as the Patriots’ junior varsity coach and the wide receivers coach on the varsity level. Stewart has been with the program for two years after serving as the offensive coordinator at Goshen. The former Mississippi State offensive lineman has served as the offensive line coach at Pike Road since 2025.
“Both of those men have made a huge impact to our program,” Shook said. “Josh has been here at Pike Road from Day One, since the school started. He has definitely shown commitment. I’m excited for this new role for him.
“Corbin hasn’t been here as long, but he’s made a huge impact in a short amount of time.”
Shook said the offense may look a little different this fall after the graduation of several big-play skill players, along with the return of four starters on the offensive line and quarterback Gunner Gibbs.
“At the high school level, we may change from year to year regardless of coordinators just because of personnel,” Shook said. “At the college level, you can recruit and find players based off your coaching staff and what they want, but at the high school level, you’ve got to coach based on your personnel.
“We’ll use this spring as valuable time for those guys (Clark and Stewart) to work together and create chemistry. They’ll both be really involved in in-game and sideline adjustments. I will identify one as a primary play caller.”
The Patriots open the 2026 season on the road against Enterprise on Aug. 21.