Lenny Gregory of Collins Hill and Darius Smiley of Central-Carroll stepped down from coaching positions this week, bringing to 37 the number of offseason openings at GHSA schools.
Gregory, who led Collins Hill to its first championship in 2021 in Class 7A, resigned Wednesday, saying his vision of the program did not match that of the new school administration.
“It pains me to leave a program that I devoted my life to and helped build into both a state and national power, as well as the community that my family and I truly love,’’ Gregory announced in a Twitter post.
Gregory’s teams were 46-28 in six seasons. The 2021 team featuring AJC all-classification player of the year Travis Hunter was 15-1, losing only in a post-season game in Las Vegas.
At Central, Smiley had brought the Lions their first playoff victory this season in eight years. He took over in 2017, inheriting a program that had gone 0-10 the season before. His six year record was 26-36, but the 8-4 finish in 2022 was the best since a 9-2 record in 2015.
This is a list of coaches openings with GHSA schools and their former coaches, and new coaches if hired.
Armuchee - Jeremy Green
Berkmar - Cole Meyer
Blessed Trinity - Tom Hall
Cairo - David Coleman (interim)
Campbell - Howie Decristofaro
Central (Carrollton) – Darius Smiley
Central (Macon) - Joaquin Sample
Central (Talbotton) - Chris Cowart
Chattahoochee - Mike Malone
Chattahoochee County - Ryan McKenzie
Chattooga - Shawn Peek
Chestatee - Shaun Conley
Collins Hill – Lenny Gregory
Dacula - Casey Vogt
Forsyth Central - David Rooney
Gordon Central - T.J. Hamilton
Griffin - Rusty Easom
Hawkinsville - Shane Williamson
Jackson County - Rich McWhorter
Jefferson County - J.B. Arnold
Lowndes - Zach Grage
Metter: Rodney Garvin
M.L. King - Deante Lamar
Northside (Warner Robins) - Chad Alligood
Peach County: Chad Campbell
Pope - Tab Griffin
Putnam County - Shaun Pope
Rockdale County - Lee Hannah
Salem - Jarrett Laws
Seckinger - Aaron Hill
Shaw - Blair Harrison
Southwest DeKalb - Damien Wimes
Statesboro - Jeff Kaiser
Treutlen - Steve Versprille
Tri-Cities - Cuevas Dargan
Vidalia - Jason Cameron (New coach: Rodney Garvin)
Walker - Tom Evangelista
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