COACHING STAFF

Jeff Parker
Offensive Coordinator / QB Coach

5th Year at Independence
31st Year Coaching

Assistant Head Coach / Offensive Coordinator / QB coach at Tennessee State University (2010-2019)
Passing Game Coordinator / QB Coach / WR Coach at Norfolk State University (2005-2010)
WR Coach at Bethune-Cookman College (2002-2005)
Head Coach at Spruce Creek High School – Port Orange, FL (2002)
Assistant Head Coach / Offensive Coordinator at Seabreeze High School – Daytona Beach, FL (1993-2002)

Professional Experience
AFL Orlando Predators WR/DB/KR (1995-1998)
AFL Charlotte Rage WR/DB/KR (1994)
WFL (NFL Europe) Rhine Fire DB/KR (1995)
NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR (1992)
Bethune-Cookman University Hall of Fame Inductee
Seabreeze High School Hall of Fame Inductee

Spouse- Onya / Children: Daughter Jai & son Jayce

Taylor Burks
Defensive Coordinator / LB Coach

2nd Year at Independence
28th Year Coaching

• Graduate Assistant Coach (1996-1999)
• Linebacker / Strength & Conditioning Coordinator (2001)
• Defensive Coordinator / Strength & Conditioning Coordinator (2002-2006)
• Special Teams Coordinator / Strength & Conditioning Coordinator (2015-2020)
• Defensive Coordinator / Strength & Conditioning Coordinator (2021)

Coached 10 years High School Football

Won the NJCAA National Championship with Georgia Military College in 2001.
Named American Football Monthly NJCAA Defensive Coordinator of the year in 2003

Spouse: Emily Leslie Burks

Jim Fishel
OL / OLB Coach

2nd Year at Independence
39th Year Coaching

South Gibson County High School 2009-2022
Crockett County High School 2008-2009
Head Football Coach at Union City High School 2003-2007
Assistant at Union City High School 1987-2002
Obion Central High School 1986-1987

Coached in 3 State Championship Games at Union City High School including the 2005 State Championship when coach Fishel was the head coach

Spouse: Lori Fishel

Dylan Black
DL Coach

2nd Year at Independence
5th Year Coaching

Previously coached at South Gibson County High School
Played football at South Gibson County High School
Played football at Bethel University

Tyler Forte
WR Coach / Head JV Coach

2nd Year at Independence
10th Year Coaching

Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach 4 years at Donelson Christian Academy (Football, Wrestling and Track)
Coached 4 years at DuPont Hadley Middle School (Football, Basketball and Track)

Played at Ezell-Harding Christian School (Football, Basketball, Baseball and Track)

Dexter McCluster
RB Coach

Mike Ernst
WR Coach / Head Freshman Coach

1st Year at Independence
11th Year Coaching

Four years Ramona Pop Warner
Three years Head Freshman coach and Offensive Coordinator, Ramona High School
Three years Head JV coach and Offensive Coordinator, Ramona High School
Four years Varsity WR Coach, Special Teams Coordinator, Ramona High School

Played DB/QB at Elder High School, Cincinnati, Ohio. JV Scout Player of the year 1977
United States Navy Surface Warfare Officer and Anti-terrorism Force Protection Training Officer (25 years)
High School Navy JROTC Senior Naval Science Instructor 10 years
High School Assistant Principal seven years

Spouse: Robyn
Children: Daughter Candice (Kyle), Son Erik (Kenzie)
Grandchildren: Hartley, Brooks, Brixton and Kooper

Blaine Bishop
DB Coach

1st Year at Independence
1st Year Coaching

Played 10 years in the NFL
4 time pro bowler
3 time all pro

Cody McCallister
Safeties Coach

1st Year at Independence
10th Year Coaching

Co-DC MJCA 2013
GA/ST QC Mississippi College 2014-2016
DC/Recruiting Coordinator Kentucky Christian University 2017
STC/DB/WR Dickson County HS 2018
STC/Safeties Bethel University 2019-2022
Played 4 years @ Cumberland University

Spouse: Kelly McCallister
Children: Kaiden & Kyler

Brandi Mangrum
Certified Athletic Trainer

17th Year at Independence
20 Years as Athletic Trainer

BS of Science from Alabama, MS in Health Education from MTSU
She began her career at Brentwood Academy in 2003
2015 Named High School Athletic Trainer of the Year for the State of Tennessee at the Tennessee Athletic Trainer Society’s Annual Conference
2006 Came to Independence teaching Health Science and Rehabilitation
2016-17 Named Teacher of the Year at Independence

Spouse: Roy Mangrum (founder of  Barbell Voodoo). They married in 2010 on the 50 yard line on the football field at Independence.
Furbabies (Rescue Pitbulls): Bacon Saban (named after Nick Saban) and Ella Blade (named after Coach Scott Blade)

Dr. Colin Looney
Team Physician
Bone & Joint Institute at Williamson Medical Center