SPORTS & OUTDOORS

The Bulldogs cast a wide net in their search for a new football coach, but it turns out the answer was just across the parking lot.

North Mason High School officially made John Fullington its head football coach after the school board approved the move at its Monday meeting.

Fullington has been a physical education teacher and football coach at Hawkins Middle School since 2018.

"I'm very excited about this hire," North Mason athletic director Ray Bonnell wrote in an email. "We spread the net wide, had some college coaches and some experienced high school guys apply, but were able to land not just John, but also my next favorite candidate who will be his assistant head coach, Kane Bachelor."

Fullington, a former North Mason star who graduated in 2010 had his No. 77 jersey retired by the school in September, played at Washington State University in Pullman, where he started 43 consecutive games for the Cougars.

Fullington also spent time in the NFL on the rosters of the Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints.

"We were able to talk with candidates from as far as Ohio, Arizona, Oregon and California," Bonnell said. "We whittled it down to a small group of incredibly strong candidates with two on-campus guys standing out as perfect fits to establish long-term growth and stability in our football program. We have a familiar face in John Fullington, who we have selected to lead the program. He is from here, he'll be buried here, and in between he'll continue to leave an incredible imprint on the community."

Author Bio

Justin Johnson, Editor

Shelton-Mason County Journal & Belfair Herald
Email: [email protected]