By Marla Jones, Reporter • marla@southerntorch.com

COLLINSVILLE, Ala. — The Southern Torch Coach of the Week is Coach James "Ernie" Willingham, Head Coach of the Collinsville Panthers!

Willingham is a alumnus of both Collinsville and Jacksonville State University. He served as the Head Coach at Appalachian from 1984 to 1991. He coached basketball with Albertville from 1991 to 1993 before going back to Appalachian for five more years.

He returned to Collinsville in 1998 and coached for five years where the Panthers reached the playoffs for four of the five seasons he coached. In 2003, he returned to Appalachian before moving back to Collinsville in 2013.

Coach Willingham is entering eleventh season with the Panthers. He is married to Nina Willingham and the pair have three daughters: Kim, Kayla and Kendall.