Pannell, Ronnie

Earned varsity letters in football and baseball at Coffee. He scored first defensive touchdown in Coffee-Bradshaw series with interception return in 1970. Graduated from Coffee in 1971 and UNA in 1978. As head softball coach at Mars Hill for 15 seasons, he led team to six sectional tournaments, four state tournaments and one state runner-up. Times Daily Coach of Year in 2000. Coached seven seasons as freshman boys basketball coach at Mars Hill, with teams advancing to tournament championship game four times and winning county championship in 1994. Head golf, assistant football and head junior high basketball coach at Cherokee in 2004-05. He is now in his 28th year as broadcaster. In 1991-92 at Mars Hill, he coached three junior high boys teams in 36 games and broadcast 64 varsity girls and boys games. Broadcast 70 UNA football games and about 50 basketball and baseball games over six-year period, including 1985 national championship football game in McAllen, Texas. Broadcast 42 Bradshaw games from 1986 through 1989 and 36 Shoals Area Football Game of the Week from 1996 through 1998. In all, has broadcast more than 1,000 Mars Hill basketball games.