Emory Latta Resigns as Providence Coach

Emory Latta has been the only Providence Christian Football coach, that is, until Tuesday.

Latta decided to step down from his position and the school board voted to make longtime assistant Kenny Keith, new head coach.

Latta will focus now primarily on his job as Providence Christian's Head Master.

During his six-year tenure, the Eagles went 36-29, making four playoff trips.

Here's a memo from the PCS Board of Directors:

As most of you know, Emory Latta has served our school for a number of years in a dual capacity as both Head of School and Head Football Coach. Recently, Emory shared with the Board of Directors his desire to step away from the football position and focus his energies more fully on his role as Head of School. He told us of this desire after he had taken an extended time of prayer and reflection. A key to us mutually reaching this decision was giving thorough consideration to the potential impact on all areas of the school. We appreciate the time and energy Emory has devoted to establishing this vital part of the co-curricular life of PCS, and we are pleased to have him continue as the Head of School.

We particularly appreciate his lasting impact in the lives of the young men he has coached. And we recognized it is this same desire to impact lives for Christ though classical and Christian education that enables Emory to be a very fine Head of School for PCS.

Both Emory and the school board believe the football program is healthy and well-established, and that the opportunity exists to fill the head coaching position with a man who fully understands the Providence philosophy regarding competitive athletics from a Biblical perspective. These combined factors are key reasons we believe the Lord is preparing the way for new and exciting things for our students.

Recently, the PCS Board interviewed and voted to hire Kenny Keith as the new Head Football Coach at PCS. Kenny has served Providence the past seven years as a varsity football assistant and Defensive Coordinator for the Eagles while serving as a full-time teacher at Rehobeth Middle School. He will continue in that capacity at Rehobeth while serving PCS as Head Coach.
Kenny has more than twenty years of experience in coaching high school football and is the dad of PCS graduate Lauren Keith (Class of 2007). He and his wife Karen are members at Westwood Presbyterian Church in Dothan where Kenny serves as a deacon.

We look forward to Kenny's leadership in his new role at Providence and we appreciate Emory's service in the dual capacity the past few years.

Clay Howell
Providence Christian School Board
Chairman