Cope named flag football coach

Football has been a fundamental part of Bryson Copes’s life ever since he put on the pads as a kid. Now, years after he swapped out battling in the trenches for a whistle, he’s ready to take on a new challenge.

Cope has been named the Warren County Middle School flag football coach, continuing the growth of the sport locally. Cope was serve as the inaugural leader of the program, one the school system worked to get together after the success of flag football at the high school level over the last two years.

“I was very excited,” said Cope about his reaction when he heard he got the gig. “Then it went straight into business - talking about when we could do tryouts and getting all the things we need to get started.”

Cope is no stranger to the sidelines at Nunley Stadium, having played for the Pioneers and earning a football scholarship to UAB last decade. Even during his playing career, Cope was already working to transition into coaching, starting first with youth leagues before moving on to help the high school program once he was ready to be a full-time coach.

This fall, Cope will enter his fifth season coaching the Pioneers and will be taking over the tight ends. Coach Eric Belew shared the Facebook announcement of Cope’s hiring with a caption, “Well deserved” and the WCMS post said “Coach Bryson Cope is ready to lead our student-athletes on this exciting new adventure, and we are thrilled to have him as part of our athletic program.”

Cope said conversations with Paul Willis Martin - the high school flag football coach who has already established WCHS as one of the premier programs in the Midstate - and Noah Martin encouraged him to apply.

“My football background helps with it. Every good high school team needs a good feeder program,” said Cope.

He’s not wasting time either. Be on the lookout for tryout announcements for the Lady Pioneeres, who will make their debut in the spring of 2027.