By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
New Cummings football coach Darius Pinnix has tapped into various connections in putting together a coaching staff.
Within a few weeks after he was hired for the position, Cummings announced eight men who’ll work under Pinnix, and since then there have been two more additions.
Pinnix is a Western Alamance alum so there’s a flavor from his high school ties on the staff.
“Just trying to do my job,” Pinnix said of the quick action. “Making sure they check all the boxes.”
The offensive coordinator will be Jamie Newman, a former quarterback at Graham and in college for Wake Forest. Newman was the coach for Woodlawn Middle School a couple of years ago and he also helped on the 2024 Eastern Alamance coaching staff. Newman has been a trainer for several quarterbacks in the area.
Jaylin Chambers will be the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He played at Southern Alamance, though most recently worked under Jay Perdue at George Washington in Danville, Virginia. Perdue was a longtime assistant coach and athletics director at Cummings, though now is defensive coordinator at George Washington.
Jsi Hatfield, who was a college teammate of Pinnix at East Carolina, is joining the staff. Hatfield is a former Southern Alamance standout.
Former Western players Kevion Roberts (defensive line coach) and Trevion McCollum (receivers coach) are on board. McCollum was a quarterback in high school and at Lincoln University before time as a receiver in Appalachian State’s program.
A pair of former Williams players – Isaiah Grice (receivers) and Davon Falls (defensive line) – will be assistants. Falls most recently was on the Bartlett Yancey coaching staff.
Cedreck Marsh, who played on Graham’s 2000 state championship team, will coach safeties.
Former Cummings player Trey Smith, who was on the 2025 team’s staff, will stay with the program. Isaiah McCain will coach offensive linemen.
Pinnix said several of the new assistants have been involved in helping with offseason 7-on-7 teams in the area.
Pinnix was set to begin this week with an in-school job (involved with occupational course of study) at Cummings. He said some of the football staff members might have other roles at the school, particularly for the next school year.
