M.L. King hires Cortez Allen of Newton as head football coach

M.L. King will introduce Cortez Allen as its head football coach Thursday at 6 p.m., Allen confirmed to AJC.com.

Allen, the head coach at Newton the past three seasons, was on staff at M.L. King for its first three seasons of football from 2002 to 2004. M.L. King was 3-7, 11-2 and 11-3 in those seasons, quickly becoming a state power under head coach Kenny Barrow.

‘’It’s definitely an honor being able to return,’’ Allen said. “I helped start the program, and I’m really excited on going back. The guys that followed the staff I was on have done a tremendous job. The program has grown and prospered.’’

M.L. King suspended coach Michael Carson before the 2012 season, and he later resigned. Rober Freeman took over and led M.L. King to an 11-1 finish and its third straight region championship.

Since Carson arrived in 2010, M.L. King has been known for its passing offenses under quarterbacks Jonquell Dawson and Monqauvious Johnson.

Allen said that he would maintain aspects of the spread offense but planned to have a multiple I-formation team. Allen will bring three coaches from Newton. One is offensive Camiel Grant, also the offensive coordinator on M.L. King’s 2004 semifinal team.

‘’We’re going to try to bring a little more balance on offense with the run game,’’ Allen said. “We’ll still run some fun and gun and get it out there to those excellent athletes that we have, but we also want to be able to push the ball on through with the run game.’’

Also joining Allen from Newton will be defensive coordinator Spencer Fortson and defensive line coach Melvin Richey. Allen said he would like to maintain much of the 2012 staff that was interested in remaining.

Allen, a DeKalb County native, was 17-14 in three seasons at Newton. That’s the most wins for the school over a three-year stretch with one coach since 1993-95. Allen also was Newton’s track and field coach. His relay teams won state championships in the 400 meters in 2010 and 2011.

Allen played on Southwest DeKalb’s state championship team in 1995 and for Florida A&M for two seasons before graduating from the University of Georgia.