Starr’s Mill promotes Cooper as football coach
Starr’s Mill promoted defensive backs coach David Cooper to head football coach on Monday. Cooper will replace retiring coach Chad Phillips.
Cooper has been on the Starr’s Mill staff since 2015. He coached at Sandy Creek from 2005 to 2014 and was part of three state-championship teams.
Cooper played baseball at North Georgia and has coached that sport in high school.
Phillips had been on Starr’s Mill’s staff since the Fayette County school opened in 1998 and became head coach in 2010.
Phillips’ teams won seven region titles in his 14 seasons as head coach. His 2023 team was 10-4 and reached the Class 4A semifinals.
Starr’s Mill will be in Region 3-4A next season with Central-Carroll, Griffin, Harris County, Jonesboro, Mundy’s Mill and Northside-Columbus.
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.
