Buford promoted defensive coordinator Bryant Appling to head football coach Tuesday.
Appling has been on Buford’s staff the past 15 years through seven state titles and five runner-up finishes. He was an assistant for two seasons at Lithonia before coming to Buford.
Appling succeeds John Ford, who was 21-5 in two seasons at the Class AAAAA school. Buford’s streak of 11 semifinal finishes, a state record, was broken this past season when the Wolves lost to Bainbridge 23-20 in the quarterfinals. The upset loss also ended Buford’s state-record 35-game winning streak in home playoff games. Ford stepped down on five days later.
Buford previously had been coached by Jess Simpson, whose 13-year record of 162-22. Simpson was on the University of Miami’s staff last season.
Appling played at Lithonia High and then at Lehigh, where he was two-time All-Patriot League middle linebacker.
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