Citing PTSD, anxiety, grief and depression, Mike Hancock has resigned as football coach at Apalachee, the Barrow County school that was the site of Sept. 4 shooting that left two students and two faculty members dead. One of those killed in the shooting, Richard Aspinwall, was Hancock’s defensive coordinator.
Hancock made the announcement on his X (formerly known as Twitter) account.
“As coaches, we are a prideful group and often times don’t see the help that we need to get better,’’ he wrote. “To be open and honest, I have been struggling with PTSD, anxiety, grief, and depression. I allowed those things to cripple me for the past few months. It is through God’s grace and me humbling myself before the cross that I am seeking the mental help and healing that I need to be myself again.”
Hancock said he was working with a Christian counselor.
The accused shooter Colt Gray, who was 14, was charged with four counts of felony murder. Also killed that day were a teacher, Cristina Irimie, and students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14.
Apalachee’s football team canceled two games after the shooting and finished 0-8.
Hancock has coached at Apalachee since 2018 and was promoted from defensive coordinator in 2023. An Athens Christian and University of Georgia graduate, Hancock coached previously at Walnut Grove (2010-17), West Hall (2008), Monroe Area (2008-09), Chestatee (2003-07) and Loganville (1997-2003).
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