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Its been a while since Kenny Cobble experienced KFOA High School Football Media Day.
Cobble served as head coach at Jefferson County, compiling three playoff berths from 2011-15.
He returned to the event this year as he enters his first season as the head coach at Maryville.
Its been a whirlwind, but its been great, Cobble told The Daily Times.
Weve got such great guys on staff and such great kids.
Theyve all jumped in, and it made the transition as seamless as it could be.
Cobble was promoted from defensive coordinator to become the 19th head coach in Maryvilles history, replacing Derek Hunt, who stepped down after the 2025 season.
Maryville assistant Lamar Brown will take over as defensive coordinator, with Cobble being promoted.
Brown won a pair of state championships in 2022 and 2023 while the head coach at Knoxville West.
Cobble said he plans to try to get out of the way and let (Brown) do his job.
Our staff has been so good, and were so fortunate to have so many guys on staff that are so capable, Cobble said.
Then in walks Lamar Brown and youre like, Wow, we just found a way to get better.
Hes been fantastic.
Were fortunate, very fortunate.
Maryville is looking to return to the TSSAA State Championship game for the first time since 2019 former head coach Hunts only title leading the Rebels.
Maryville hasnt missed the playoffs since 1993.
Cobbles bucks a trend from Maryvilles last two head coaches both Hunt and 11-time state champion George Quarles were offensive-minded coaches.
Adam Hendricks remains as offensive coordinator for the Rebels and has spent the offseason working with senior quarterback Will Jones.
Maryvilles offense lit up the scoreboard a season ago, and the Rebels are looking to pair that with a talented defense that could play late into the postseason.
I think its been pretty seamless, Cobble said.
Lamar came in last year and kind of ingrained himself almost immediately.
He has such a knack for communicating with kids and connecting with kids and coaches alike, and so I think we just kind of shuffled around and kept going.
Old school defense Maryvilles linebacker corps could compete with the best in the state.
Tennessee commit JP Peace highlights the unit and is alongside Minnesota commitment Wyatt Wilber and Florida Atlantic commit Dax Cole.
Led by the stout linebacker unit, the Rebels are taking an old school approach to defense.
Cole compared the play style to Ray Lewis and Luke Kuechly during KFOA Media Day.
I feel like the game kind of has moved away from that, Cole said.
Having the mentality that we have, it sets us apart.
Cobble takes an extra sense of pride in his linebacker unit after coaching them as defensive coordinator as theyve sealed their college plans.
Thats been fun, Cobble said.
Theyve had a busy, busy spring, and a lot of coaches came through and were able to see those guys, and they went and did the camps and did the things to help get themselves on the radar, and theyre such good players.
And the cool thing about it is just how great the kids are themselves to see kids that work that hard and do the things that you ask them to do and go above and beyond and then have a chance to go live their dream is pretty exciting.