WLOS -- Swain County football will have someone new calling the shots in 2022. After Neil Blankenships' 10-year stint as the Maroon Devils head coach, Sherman Holt is taking the torch.

Holt, who served as Tuscola's associate head coach the last two years, inherits a Swain program with a rich, winning tradition. The Maroon Devils have eight state championships, 11 regional championships and 22 conference titles. Holt looks to continue that success in his first year the helm.

"I come to Swain and everybody's talking to me about 'coach, what do you think? What do you think is going to happen year one?' I said 'we want to be competitive. We want to be able to win ballgames,'" said Holt. "Here at Swain they pride themselves in doing what's right, giving your all, just being competitive and making our county proud of our football team."

Holt and his squad open the year at North Buncombe week one.