Cross Keys hires state-championship coach from Virginia

A football program known for losing has hired a winning coach.

Kevin Saunders, who won a state championship for one of Virginia's most successful football teams in 2011, resigned from Gretna High on Monday and announced he was taking over at Cross Keys in DeKalb County, according to the Danville Register & Bee.

Cross Keys’ record over the past nine seasons is 7-80-2. The team no longer plays a region schedule and hasn’t won more than three games in a season since 1995.

Saunders’ record at Gretna was 49-15 in five seasons. Gretna won Virginia’s Class 2A title in 2011. The school also won state titles in 2007 and 2008. Saunders’ overall record as a head coach is 144-77.

Saunders told the newspaper that his father lives in the Atlanta area. In January, Saunders had been recommended for the head coaching job at Coahulla Creek in Dalton but didn't get final approval by the school board, according to the Dalton Daily Citizen.

About the Author

Todd Holcomb

To grow athletic funds in NIL era, Georgia Southern gets creative — and country

Georgia Southern is hosting county music concerts and other special events to bolster its pot of player compensation funds and to attract and expand donors.

UAB pushes ahead after 2 players stabbed hours before kickoff

The Blazers, coached by Atlanta's Alex Mortensen, opted to go ahead with their game against South Florida just hours after a stabbing incident at the team's football facility.

Georgia State losing streak reaches eight

Georgia State lost its eighth game in a row to Troy, 31-19. The Panthers trailed by five points midway through the fourth quarter, but couldn't get closer.

The Latest

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Atlanta TV sports listings

To grow athletic funds in NIL era, Georgia Southern gets creative — and country

Georgia State losing streak reaches eight

Featured

Credit: Arvin Temkar/AJC

Analysts warn Georgia Power bills will rise if PSC approves data center buildout

Analysts are warning Georgia Power's residential customers could see monthly bills jump $20 or more if state regulators approve the company's planned data center expansion.

GHSA suspends 39 Gainesville football players for brawl that ended playoff game

The Gainesville-Brunswick game was discontinued with 1:57 left in the third quarter when the fight began. Gainesville was leading 42-0.

Here’s when metro Atlanta interstates will be busiest this holiday week

Experts say more than 2 million Peach State residents will travel by car for Thanksgiving.