Four Georgia high schools announced new head football coaches last week, but the most interesting coaching news might’ve been the hiring of a defensive coordinator at a Class A private school in Alpharetta.
King’s Ridge Christian, which began football in 2008, hired former Parkview coach Cecil Flowe, who retired from public schools last season. Flowe had a record of 197-67 in 21 seasons at Parkview and won state titles in 1997, 2000, 2001 and 2002. He moved to the Alpharetta area last year.
King’s Ridge also hired LaGrange College coach Todd Mooney as offensive coordinator
King’s Ridge opened in 2001. Its board chairman is former Braves pitcher John Smoltz. Jeff Pickren has been the school’s only football coach. The team was 4-6 in 2013.
The four schools that hired head coaches also went for experience.
- Cedar Shoals announced the return of Scott Wilkins, the Jaguars' head coach from 1994-2007. Wilkins' 106 victories are the most in school history. Wilkins previously was an assistant at Athens Academy.
- Oconee County hired Stephens County coach Travis Noland, who was 73-30 in nine seasons in Toccoa.
- Upson-Lee hired Harris County coach Tommy Parks to replace Tommy Watson, who retired. Parks is a native of Upson County and played on R.E. Lee's 1988 state championship team.
- Coahulla Creek hired Clay County (Tenn.) coach Chad Barger to replace Jared Hamlin, who started the program two seasons ago.
Playing in lower classification: The GHSA's decision last week to allow Thomas County Central and Bainbridge to play in lower classifications beginning in 2014-15 shows the GHSA is more willing than ever to put travel concerns ahead of strict enrollment numbers when classifying its schools.
The GHSA originally placed the two isolated South Georgia schools in Region 1-AAAAA for football but 1-AAAA for other sports. Both schools have AAAAA enrollment. Putting them in AAAA allows them to travel an average of only about 100 miles per region contest, about half the miles they would make in the higher class.
The GHSA originally placed them in the higher class for football because that is the sport when enrollment numbers may bring the greatest advantage. But Thomas Central successfully and surprising persuaded the GHSA’s executive committee Tuesday to allow the school and Bainbridge to drop down for all sports.
The GHSA first allowed as few as three schools to play in lower classifications for travel reasons in 2012, but Thomas County Central will be the most prominent to play down from a football standpoint. The Yellow Jackets have averaged nearly nine wins per season over the past 10 years.
Olympic champion visits Redan: Redan's track and field teams are getting a visit at practice Wednesday from Ralph Boston, a former Olympic gold medalist in the long jump. Boston, 74, is a Mississippi native and Atlanta resident. He broke Jesse Owens' 25-year-old record in the long jump in 1960. Redan's boys and girls track and field teams have won two state titles apiece in the past 10 years. Monday marked the first day that Georgia high schools could practice in track and field and soccer. Baseball and lacrosse teams can begin Jan. 27. The start of tennis and gymnastics was last week.
USA Baseball selects Parkview coach: Parkview baseball coach Chan Brown has been named manager of the 15U USA Baseball team that will compete in the first-ever 15U Baseball World Cup in La Paz, Mexico, Aug. 1-10. Brown had assisted Cal-Northridge coach Tom Meusborn last year for the U.S. team that won the 2013 15U Pan American Championship gold medal. Brown is 264-122 record since 2005 at Parkview and won the 2012 Baseball America high school national championship.
