Former Independence High football coach Scott Young now volunteering at Statesville High

Two weeks after he was fired as football head coach at Independence High School, Scott Young told the Observer he has moved his family to Statesville.

Young said he is a volunteer coach at Statesville High . His son, Bryant, played quarterback for Statesville in last week’s 40-20 win over Hickory. He completed 7-of-9 passes and scored a rushing touchdown.

Scott Young was fired just one week before Independence High played at Dutch Fork (S.C.) in its opener Aug. 19. Sources told the Observer the firing was due to a group of parents, upset with Young’s coaching plans and coaching style -- along with his plan to start his son at quarterback -- and expressed concerns to the Independence High administration. Those concerns also included Young missing most of the offseason workouts after having heart replacement surgery in the spring.

Independence principal David Legrand, who later fired Young, referred the Observer to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools communications department, and said only that Hal Brown would be interim coach this season. Legrand was named principal at Independence May 24, about two weeks after Young was hired.

"We want to just get through this season," Legrand said, choosing his words carefully. "We’re not going to focus on next season just yet."

The Patriots lost 45-0 at Dutch Fork (S.C.) last week. Meantime, Young -- who was in the process of moving his family to Charlotte from Mount Ulla in Rowan County,where he previously coached at West Rowan and won three state titles -- quickly changed plans.

His wife, Dianne, was hired to teach at a Charlotte elementary school and his three children were to attend school in Charlotte. After his dismissal, that all changed.

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Young said his wife is close to being hired at a Statesville-area elementary, and his two older children -- Bryant and rising freshman Ally -- have enrolled at Statesville High.

“When I got released from Independence,” Young said, “my first priority was to take care of my kids, and we have them taken care of now. We’re excited and happy and we had a good opening night. They have a very talented team up here.”

Statesville is off this week and plays at North Rowan Sept. 2.

This story was originally published August 25, 2016 at 3:01 PM with the headline "Former Independence High football coach Scott Young now volunteering at Statesville High."