There were 16 new head coaches in Class 5A this fall. Here are a half-dozen changes that seem to be working.
Banneker: Former LaGrange standout Braxton Kelly was brought in to run things when Lou George decided to change professions after two years as head coach. Kelly played at Kentucky and spent three seasons with the Denver Broncos. He had been an assistant at Clark-Atlanta for seven years. The Trojans (2-4, 1-2) ended a four-game losing streak last week by beating Drew 25-0. Banneker hung tough with Region 3 contenders Jonesboro and Woodward Academy. Looks like the Trojans can make the playoffs by beating Tri-Cities.
Blessed Trinity: Tom Hall was brought in to replace Tim McFarlin, who retired for about two minutes before taking the job at Fellowship Christian. Hall is a former assistant at Blessed Trinity and has been the head football coach in Boynton Beach, Fla. He had a one-year stint at Johnson Gainesville in 2005. The Titans (4-3, 1-1 Region 7) have played a difficult non-conference schedule with losses to rival Marist and St. Pius. Blessed Trinity has Cartersville this week and needs a win to remain in the running for hme-field advantage in the playoffs.
Griffin: Rusty Easom replaced Kareem Reed, who joined the staff at Central Florida. Easom spent the last two seasons as head coach at Rutland but jumped at the chance to return to Griffin, where he was the defensive coordinator for the 2013 championship team. Griffin is 3-3, 2-1 in Region 2, against a difficult schedule. Best win was a 32-14 season-opening victory over rival Spalding.
St. Pius: The Golden Lions turned to longtime assistant coach Chad Garrison to replace Paul Standard, who was the school’s all-time winningest coach before leaving for the job at Gilmer. Garrison hasn’t changed anything, running the same offense and defense, and the consistency shows. St. Pius is 5-2 and 3-0 in Region 6. The Golden Lions can likely win the region title by beating Decatur in the final game.
Villa Rica: Former Heard County coach Tim Barron was brough in when Christian Hunnicutt bailed after one season. Barron won seven region championships and a state title in 2018 with Heard from 2002-2020. After opening the season with two losses, the Wildcats (4-2, 2-0) have reeled off four straight wins. The wide-open Region 6 title could come down to the Villa Rica-New Manchester game on Oct. 29 in Douglasville.
Woodland: Julian Hicks was hired to replace Bryan Bailey, who returned to Stockbridge after his only season as head coach. Hicks played a Furman and has been an assistant at North Clayton, Sprayberry and Riverdale. Hicks has the Wolfpack (4-3, 3-1) in position to make the playoffs, but it may come down to the outcome against Union Grove; those two teams play in the season finale.
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