Score Atlanta
Carrollton head coach Rayvan Teague announced his retirement from coaching early Friday morning in a team meeting with his players. Teague spent the last 24 years as a head football coach in Georgia and is leaving his coaching legacy behind to pursue a career outside of football.
Credit: Stephen Black - Score Atlanta
Credit: Stephen Black - Score Atlanta
“I don’t want to coach anymore and I want to start my second career in some other area whether it be sales, administration or something else, and I feel it is that time in life that I need to do that. Teacher retirement is a good plan and the best part of education is the backend and it just made logical sense for me," explained Teague.
The native of Flintstone, Ga., started his head coaching career at LaFayette in 1990 and posted just two losing seasons in 24 years according to the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. Teague won a state championship at Swainsboro in 2000 and led Carrollton to 127 wins in 12 seasons since taking over the program in 2002.
“I’ve always been told that you will know it was time," said Teague. "I always knew I was not one of these coaches that would hold on and hold on and hold on. The job is very demanding and very taxing, but rewarding as well. I’ve been extrememly blessed and I’ve been the head coach at three very good programs.”
The news came as a surprise to the Carrollton football team and community, who has seen just three other head coaches in the last 56 years, but Teague explained that his players were supportive and that the program is in great hands moving forward.
“The players were both surprised and happy for me," said Teague. "It is a different scenario than just leaving the team [for another team] when you are retiring. I can be an emotional guy and on senior night I always hate to see players leave, but today was more of a celebration for me. It was a chance that has been earned from putting in the time. I feel good about the position the program is in and can walk away. … I've embraced the tradition and heritage of Carrollton and all I wanted to do when I got here was to pick up the baton and continue to run the race as well as it had been run before me and I feel like I can lay it down and say that I’ve done that. … It is just an exciting phase of my life to move on.”
Teague will celebrate his 52nd birthday in May.
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