Spring football practice is in full swing for the Middlesboro Yellow Jackets. Larry French is in his first year as the head coach at Middlesboro after a five-year stint at Southwestern High School. In his five years at Southwestern, French lead the Warriors to a 47-17 record, including four regional championship game appearances.

Both French and the team are still acclimating to one another.

“We’re still getting used to each other at this point,” said French. “It’s going to take a little bit of time for us to adjust to one another. The further we go, the better we will be.”

After a disappointing 2018 season, in which the Yellow Jackets went 1-10, French and his team aren’t focusing on one specific area to improve, but all areas of the game.

“We aren’t focused on any one particular thing,” said French. “We are focused on offense, defense, special teams and getting things done in the classroom. You have to have a strong foundation to further build the program. If we can continue to improve, which I think we will, then that means we are all doing our jobs.”

French is looking to the student body to re-invigorate the team.

“Everyone that has shown up so far has been giving good effort,” said French. “We need some more players to come out and be willing to work hard and make us better. We’ve got a pretty good incoming freshman class coming up, but we still need anyone and everyone to come out and give their all for the team.

“Running 11-on-11 is the best way to prepare for the speed of the game, as well as the best way to learn proper technique and fundamentals of the game. Once we get everyone that we are going to have, as long as the work ethic and drive are there, I think we can do some good things.”