Valdosta High will not welcome back head coach

By Michael Carvell

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Valdosta High School, which has the nation’s winningest football program, will not welcome back its head coach for next season.

Valdosta dropped a 57-15 decision to crosstown rival Lowndes last weekend. Wildcats coach Rick Tomberlin was told late Tuesday his contract would not be renewed for the 2010 season by Valdosta City Schools Superintendent Bill Cason, according to the Valdosta Daily Times.

“I’m in shock,” Tomberlin told the Valdosta newspaper. “I did everything I could do here. I’ve never worked harder in my life. I haven’t missed many days of school. I’ve made some wonderful friends here. A lot of people have been very kind to me. I think I’m leaving (the program) a lot better than it was when I got here.”

Tomberlin was given the option of resigning immediately or finishing out the season. He has decided to stay on with the Wildcats, who are 4-3 and still have a chance of earning a berth in the state playoffs. Tomberlin’s dismissal still must go through several other steps, including a vote by the board of education. However, the rest of the process is considered to be a mere formality.

Tomberlin has a 19-20 record at Valdosta, including a 1-9 mark in his first season at the school in 2006. Tomberlin was hired away from Washington County, where he coached for 14 years and won three state championships.

Ironically, Tomberlin also had a hire-and-fire coaching stint at Valdosta's rival, Lowndes. He was hired at Lowndes in 1989, and dismissed after the Vikings posted a 7-3 record in 1991.

Although Valdosta High has not won a state championship in more than a decade -- since the 1998 season, the Wildcats are still one of the nation's most famous programs because of their storied tradition. Since 1913, Valdosta has won six mythical national championships and 23 state championships. The Wildcats have an overall record of 838 wins, 191 losses and 34 ties.

Tomberlin was unavailable for comment Wednesday.