Bay fills vacant football assistant positions

PANAMA CITY — Bay football coach Frank Sorrells can relax. For now.

The Tornadoes have a complete coaching staff afforded by the addition of two teaching positions at the school on Harrison Avenue. Sorrells can turn his attention to the start of fall practice on Aug. 9.

Benji Merchant has joined Bay as defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. He previously coached in Monroeville, Ala., and is originally from Mississippi. Merchant comes from a coaching family, Sorrells said, with his father and uncle each retired coaches with several state championships among them.

Sorrells said Merchant brings experience as a coach, having been in the sport for nine years. Merchant also played some junior college football in Mississippi.

Merchant will be an ESE teacher. Bay will employ a 4-4 defense this season.

Sorrells’ other hire is a former colleague and no stranger to the area. Dilly Webb will be the Tornadoes’ offensive coordinator and running backs coach. Webb coached under Sorrells at Niceville and Walton.

Webb was head coach at Chipley for two seasons before leaving the school in 2008 when his contract was not renewed. The Tigers had one of the area’s most prolific offenses under Webb, who will run a spread attack.

Webb will serve as a physical education instructor.

“We got them in and just in time,” Sorrells said. “They both bring some experience and knowledge to the table. The whole staff will be good for this program.”

Merchant and Webb join new coaches Mark Stanton and Tay Cody, with the latter two helping on defense.

Bay was 4-6 last season, a year after finishing winless. The Tornadoes were 3-4 in the newly formed District 1-3A in Sorrells’ first season with the team.