News spread fast after a report in the Knoxville News Sentinel Tuesday, January 24, that Lewis County Football Head Coach Derek Rang was hired as the new head coach for the Oak Ridge Wildcats. Reporter Toyloy Brown III of the Knoxville News Sentinel said Oak Ridge athletics director Joe Gaddis described the search process for the school's next football coach as exhaustive. The position received over 50 applicants.

Gaddis, a former football coach at Oak Ridge, said Rang's winning acumen, which started from his time as a player at Maryville, where he was part of three state championship teams, made him a good fit for this opportunity.

Coach Rang commented Monday, January 30, about his departure saying he "enjoyed his time in Lewis County and made many new friends" while taking the Panthers to an 11-2 season which included a playoff run into the third round.

Derek said that he grew up in the east Tennessee area playing football at Maryville High School, and college. Also his family, his fiancee, and her family are from that area making it the right decision when the coaching job there came open.

High School Athletic Director Jonathan Owen said that Lewis County will miss Rang and, that he made a big impact at the school and for the football program. After hearing of Rang's decision, Owen said the open position was posted on the TSSAA website and numerous applicants have already announced interest in coming to Lewis County. "We will soon start the process of contacting the individuals, sorting through the top prospects, and then meeting in person to make a decision. Ideally we could have someone in place by spring break."

Owen said the football program will continue with training as usual with the assistant coaches preparing for the fall season.