“We want to win state titles, that’s the name of the game,” said newly-named Macon County High School coach Mark Pemberton on Monday afternoon, June 14, before his first official workout with the team.

Pemberton, who is returning to coaching Tennessee high school football after one season at West Laurens High School in Dublin, Ga., already has one state championship season under his belt from his tenure at Knoxville Catholic High School and is looking to add yet another state title.

History had an impact on Pemberton’s decision to coach at Macon County.

His father, who coached football for 40 years and who he goes to for advice, told him about how Macon County had a tradition of “solid teams with hard-nosed kids.”