Brunswick football coach resigns in wake of Gainesville altercation
Brunswick football coach Garrett Grady resigned Tuesday morning after leading the Pirates to three region titles in his four seasons, the coach confirmed to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Brunswick is ineligible for the playoffs in 2026 because of an altercation involving some 80 players that a Brunswick player instigated during a Nov. 21 second-round playoff game against Gainesville.
Glynn County Schools released a statement announcing Grady’s resignation. It did not mention Brunswick’s penalties.
Grady told the AJC that the GHSA penalties were not part of his decision.
“Coach Grady’s impact goes far beyond his success on the field,” the statement read, in part. “He has been commended as not only a great football coach but also an exceptional teacher, mentor, role model and leader within the community. During his four years as head coach of the Pirates, Coach Grady significantly elevated the football program’s profile within Glynn County.”
The statement included remarks from Grady.
“Serving as the head football coach at Brunswick High School has truly been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Grady said. “I am profoundly grateful for the trust placed in me, for the support I’ve received, and for the relationships that will remain long after my time in this position.”
Brunswick is appealing its 41-player suspensions and playoff ban to the GHSA’s Board of Trustees on Wednesday.
The incident that led to those penalties began when a Brunswick player pulled the helmets off two Gainesville players and struck one in the head late in the third quarter of a game that was stopped with Gainesville leading 42-0.
Another Brunswick player blindsided one of the two Gainesville players, knocking him to the ground. Scores of players rushed the field.
The GHSA suspended 38 Gainesville players and 41 Brunswick players.
Brunswick and Glynn County Schools athletic director Steve Waters apologized for Brunswick’s role in the altercation during a GHSA appeals hearing last month.
“This whole incident would not have happened if not for two of our kids,” Waters said. “We’re here because of a lack of discipline on our part, and we’re taking responsibility for that. We’ve got a lot of soul-searching to do over next few months. We do want everybody to know we take full responsibility for what happened.”
The GHSA imposed the postseason ban on Brunswick and fined the coastal Georgia school $5,000.
Gainesville’s players were reinstated upon appeal to the GHSA’s Executive Committee last week after a Superior Court ruling issues a restraining order on the GHSA. Gainesville played at near full strength last week and defeated Hughes 40-32 in the Class 5A quarterfinals.
Grady’s record at Brunswick was 36-10. He had been Brunswick’s assistant head coach and offensive coordinator the five seasons before being promoted in 2022.
Grady previously assisted at his alma mater, Pierce County. He was part of national championship Valdosta State teams as a player in 2007 and a graduate assistant in 2012.
About the Author
Todd Holcomb covers high school sports across the state. He rejoined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2025 and has worked with the AJC in varying capacities since 1985. He is a co-founder and editor of Georgia High School Football Daily.
