AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2008 > August > 06 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USGeorgia high school football coaching changes: Who went where?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There have been 101 Georgia high school football coaches hired since the 2007 season — 95 coaching changes and six hires at new schools or programs. Below, the 101 are broken down into where each school got its new coach. Most were promoted from within.
The 2007 whereabouts of two coaches — Greg Busby of Montgomery County and Jim Morrell of Pelham — have not been confirmed.
Kick off the debate: Let us know which school(s) made the best hires/promotions and which coaches you’re surprised to see somewhere new.
Schools that hired another Georgia head coach (25)
Bainbridge — Ed Pilcher (Thomas County Central)
Berrien — Ryan Branch (Brooks County)
Brooks County — Maurice Freeman (Brunswick)
Calvary Day — Mark Stroud (Toombs County)
Chamblee — Michael Collins (Pebblebrook)
Dade County — Bradley Warren (Gilmer)
Dodge County — Lee Campbell (Hawkinsville)
Douglass — Kenny Barrow (Mundy’s Mill)
Franklin County — Tommy Welch (LaFayette)
Hardaway — Jeff Battles (Pacelli)
Houston County — Greg Robinson (Dodge County)
Rabun County — Danny Durham (Franklin County)
Howard — Bobby Hughes (Macon County)
Jones County — Dwight Jones (McIntosh)
Kell — Derek Cook (South Cobb)
McEachern — Kyle Hockman (Campbell)
North Clayton — Rodney Hackney (Lithonia)
Northside-Columbus — Paul Cates (Columbus)
Northview — Jim Sowfety (Chamblee)
Riverdale — Nick Davis (Shiloh)
Rutland — George Collins (Houston County)
South Forsyth — Wendell Early (Berkmar)
Toombs County — Shane Williamson (Swainsboro)
Union County — Brian Allison (Winder-Barrow)
Union Grove — Steven Collins (Stockbridge)
Promoted an assistant (32)
Banneker — Ed Gosa
Central Gwinnett — Ed Stokes
Coffee — Ken Eldridge
Collins Hill — Billy Wells
Cross Keys — Anwar Heard
Dalton — Adam Winegarden
Decatur — Price Jones
Duluth — Gary McDonald
East Coweta — Clint Wade
Fellowship Christian — Terry Luck
Gilmer — Wesley Tankersley
Greater Atlanta Christian — Ken Robinson
Greenbrier — Brian Smith
Hancock Central — Zachary Harris
Harrison — David Hines
Hawkinsville — Cam Black
Jeff Davis — Jason McBride
Lakeside-Atlanta — Jeff Joiner
Mays — Dominic Callaway
Mundy’s Mill — Dorwyn Lyles
Ola — John Kovzel
Our Lady of Mercy — Chad Flatt
Pacelli — Bryan Eason
Roswell — Leo Barker
South Cobb — Ed Koester
Thomas County Central — Bill Shaver
Tri-Cities — Kenneth Miller
Upson-Lee — Tommy Watson
Ware County — John Stephens
Westlake — Greg Minnis
Westside-Augusta — Ivery Hugee
Winder-Barrow — Ben Corley
Hired another school’s assistant (29)
Allatoona — Gary Varner (Roswell)
Avondale — Michael Carson (MLK)
Berkmar — John Thompson (Valdosta)
Campbell — Shawn Campbell (Cass)
Cedar Shoals — Xarvia Smith (Camden County)
Chapel Hill — Chris Parker (Sequoyah)
Columbus — Brian Barnhill (Franklin County)
Eagle’s Landing — Joe Teknipp (Henry County)
Forest Park — Rod Perrymond (Jonesboro)
Kendrick — Jerry Dukes (Carver-Columbus)
Lamar County — Jason Strickland (Charlton County)
Lithonia — Earl White (Norcross)
Macon County — Matthew Lester (Northeast Macon)
McIntosh — Glenn Griffin (Starr’s Mill)
Montgomery County — Greg Busby
Morrow — Larry Mortonson (Pelham)
Mount Paran Christian — Mitch Jordan (Darlington)
North Cobb Christian — Terence Lott (Jackson County)
Pebblebrook — Randall Smith (Troup)
Pelham — Jim Morrell
Randolph-Clay — Kerry English (Albany)
Riverwood — Robert Ingram (Dutchtown)
Rockdale County — Mike Etheridge (Salem)
Spalding — Clint Ashmore (Jackson)
Stockbridge — Don Vandygriff (Dublin)
Swainsboro — Scott Roberts (Cairo)
Washington - Stanley Pritchett (Douglass)
Wayne County — Mark Daniel (Thomson)
Wheeler — Tom Flugum (Sprayberry)
Hired out-of-state head coach (8)
Brunswick — Victor Floyd (Chester, S.C.)
Colquitt County — Rush Propst (Hoover, Ala.)
Heritage-Ringgold — Tim James (East Ridge, Chattanooga, Tenn.)
North Atlanta — Brian Montgomery (Selma, Ala.)
Oconee County — Mitch Olson (Kennedy, La Palma, Calif.)
Pope — Matt Kemper (Lake Howell, Winter Park, Fla.)
Shiloh — Keith Wilkes (Carver, Winston-Salem, N.C.)
Walker — Ben Williamson (Christ School, Arden, N.C.)
Hired an out-of-state assistant (2)
LaFayette — Perry Swindall (Spain Park, Hoover, Ala.)
Lassiter — Chip Lindsey (Hoover, Ala.)
Hired a college or professional coach (5)
Central Carrollton — Mike Ledford (West Georgia)
Mitchell County — Dondrail Pinkins (not in coaching) and Derrick Silas (Pikeville College)
Southeast Whitfield — David Crane (Presbyterian)
Trion — David Humphreys (Georgia Force)
Kick off the debate: Let us know which school(s) made the best hires/promotions and which coaches you’re surprised to see somewhere new.
Permalink | Comments (27) | Post your comment | Categories: Extra Point
Comments
By BigO
August 7, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this
You have given Coach Wendell Early ample opportunity to comment about coaching at the high school level. His comments are transparent and it is obvious that he has ill feelings about his Berkmar experience. That is natural to some extent. However, it doesn’t reflect accurately that Coach Early was asked to leave Berkmar, in large part, because he was an inefective leader. Seasons of saying one thing and doing another proved to be his undoing there. Giving preferential treatment to his key players failed to create an environment for success. He violated his own policies to keep his star players on the gridiron on more than a few occasions. I wish Coach Early the best, he is a good strategist but I find his comments about character development to be hypocritical. The Berkmar Patriot players see themselves and their coaches as one under Coach John Thompson. They may not be as good this year as last, but at least they will win or lose as a team, believing in each other and their coaches. By the way, I base my comments on the experience of two sons who played (and started) for Coach Early.
By PatriotFan
August 7, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this
Good luck to Coach Thompson and team!!!! He is a blessing for Berkmar and we as parents are glad and excited to have him and the staff on board!!!
Go Patriots!!!!
By LEROY
August 7, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
What happened at thomas county central did they fire pilcher?
By James
August 7, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this
Things are going to be interesting in South Fulton this fall…no only have two schools moved to one of toughest 5-A regions in the state. Coaching changes have rocked the landscape. New head coach at Westlake (Greg Minnis, former assistant and state finalist in Florida in 2006), Banneker has part ways with Benny Crane and has promoted Assistant Ed Gosa, while Tri-Cities didn’t want to be left out they have promoted Kenneth Miller. Whitley at Creekside is the only remaining veteran coach among the Fulton County schools. Good luck guys!!!!
By Graysonfan
August 7, 2008 10:21 PM | Link to this
hey, Grayson lost 8 asst. coaches. Were did they go?
By Todd Holcomb
August 7, 2008 11:53 PM | Link to this
What happened at thomas county central did they fire pilcher?
Pilcher resigned to take the job at Bainbridge, an program that is pouring money into facilities and is hungry for a winner.
hey, Grayson lost 8 asst. coaches. Were did they go?
I hadn’t heard they many had left. I don’t know where they are now. I’m eager to say how Grayson will do. This could be a sleeper team in Class AAAAA except to those in Gwinnett.
By WIN
August 8, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this
WHERE IS COACH SHOCKLEY (FORMELY OF NORTH CLAYTON HIGH SCHOOL) COACHING?*
By Graysonfan
August 8, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this
Ive heard Michigan is looking at a multi talented player on the Grayson team, do you have any idea who it could be?really looking forward to their first game in the Dome vs, McEachern. love keeping up with our neighborhood team! Any bets on winners from the four games?
come on, give it a shoot. go for 4/4
By WIN
August 8, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this
There is some hype about an incoming freshman at Washington High School in Atlanta named Michael Robinson who plays LB and Center. Some say he may be another stellar Division 1 prospect from bulldog country. Keep an eye on him!!!*
By Tom
August 8, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this
*
*
GREAT SONG!!!
*
*
By Todd Holcomb
August 8, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this
WHERE IS COACH SHOCKLEY (FORMELY OF NORTH CLAYTON HIGH SCHOOL) COACHING?*
I’m not aware that Shockley is coaching anywhere. As you may know, he was dismissed at North Clayton.
Any bets on winners from the four games?
Etowah
Walton
Camden
Grayson
I feel much better about Etowah & Grayson than Walton & Camden.
By Graysonfan
August 8, 2008 10:28 PM | Link to this
I feel much better about Etowah & Grayson than Walton & Camden.
Really? After visiting Camden last season, and beating Norcross down, i have to say Camden is my favorite pic of all. We will see. Im going for all games but the first. Super impressed with Camden. Wow would I love to see Camden vs. Lowndes.
By **OOPS! THEY DID IT AGAIN**
August 8, 2008 11:26 PM | Link to this
*SO WILL D.CALLOWAY MAKE IT THROUGH YEAR TWO,AT LEAST JESSE SOLOMON DID SURVIVE 17 GAMES BEFORE HIS BOOTING.THAT LONG TIME FOR MAYS HIGH COACH,WHEN WILL MAYS REALIZE IT TAKE LONGER 15 GAME TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP*.
By **OOPS! THEY DID IT AGAIN**
August 8, 2008 11:27 PM | Link to this
*SO WILL D.CALLOWAY MAKE IT THROUGH YEAR TWO,AT LEAST JESSE SOLOMON DID SURVIVE 17 GAMES BEFORE HIS BOOTING.THAT LONG TIME FOR MAYS HIGH COACH,WHEN WILL MAYS REALIZE IT TAKE LONGER 15 GAME TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP*.
By **OOPS! THEY DID IT AGAIN**
August 8, 2008 11:27 PM | Link to this
*SO WILL D.CALLOWAY MAKE IT THROUGH YEAR TWO,AT LEAST JESSE SOLOMON DID SURVIVE 17 GAMES BEFORE HIS BOOTING.THAT LONG TIME FOR MAYS HIGH COACH,WHEN WILL MAYS REALIZE IT TAKE LONGER 15 GAME TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP*.
By **OOPS! THEY DID IT AGAIN**
August 8, 2008 11:27 PM | Link to this
*SO WILL D.CALLOWAY MAKE IT THROUGH YEAR TWO,AT LEAST JESSE SOLOMON DID SURVIVE 17 GAMES BEFORE HIS BOOTING.THAT LONG TIME FOR MAYS HIGH COACH,WHEN WILL MAYS REALIZE IT TAKE LONGER 15 GAME TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP*.
By Todd
August 10, 2008 9:23 AM | Link to this
Watch out for Spalding they got one heck of a football coach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By North Clayton 94
August 10, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this
Coach Don Shockley is now head of the Flat shoals recreation in Clayton County 2 mins from North Clayton High
By Graysonfan
August 10, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this
Really tired of looking at that picture of Diante Drake! Hey AJC, lets post pictures of deserving players. I consider it an honor to have a pictures posted for three days in a row. Lets keep it that way.
By WIN
August 10, 2008 5:25 PM | Link to this
Thanks North Clayton 94! Flat Shoals recreation is where Morgan Burnett (Ga Tech) and Mario Fannin (Auburn) and a host of other talanted athletes got their start. Flat Shoals recreation and Gresham Park recreation has constantly been the training ground for some great athletes.
By citi slicker
August 10, 2008 7:31 PM | Link to this
coach shockley is the head of the clay co rec leauge for the lil kids
By Fan of the game
August 11, 2008 5:07 PM | Link to this
Pilcher will have Bainbridge a powerhouse in no time. With a coach like Pilcher and a hot bed of athletes in Bainbridge they are going to be dangerous.
By Thomas_County_Central_Fan
August 12, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this
Shaver is my Alg. 2 teacher at Central. He is going to be a great head coach for the Thomas County Central High School Yellow Jackets!
GO JACKETS!!!!!
By Bad hire
August 12, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this
After the awful job Xarvia Smith did in his two years as head coach at Centennial, how does he get hired as a head coach so soon after that miserable failure? His replacement almost made the playoffs in his first season last year with the same players Smith went something like 3-17 with.
Did the Cedar Shoals people not pay any attention to Smith’s two years at Centennial? What were they thinking?
By Bulldog4Life
August 24, 2008 11:50 PM | Link to this
No matter who coaches Washington ain’t no coach like Coach Cofield.dis man da truth.gotta keep my eye on dis new cat
By TK Scooper
August 28, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this
What happened with Greg Slatery at South Forsyth? Did he go to another school?
By Eric Parrish
October 16, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this
GOOD LUCK ON FRIDAY’S GAME BEARCAT GO OUT AND CRUSH HARDWAY