Rick Tomberlin was introduced as the new head coach at Effingham County on Thursday.
Tomberlin, whose contract at Valdosta was not renewed after a 7-4 finish, told GHSF Daily that it was a homecoming of sorts. Tomberlin was an assistant coach at Effingham in 1981 and 1982 under Bob Griffith, who was Tomberlin's high school coach at Appling County.
Effingham County principal Yancy Ford called Tomberlin on Nov. 17, the day after the Valdosta School Board made it official that it would not renew Tomberlin's contract.
"He told me there are people telling him we need to bring Rick back home," Tomberlin said. "That made me feel good. ... I really felt God opened those doors. I really committed this to prayer, and I really feel like this is where God wanted us to go."
Effingham County was 3-7 last season and hasn't won a playoff game since 1995, when Griffith was still coach.
"It's a booming area," Tomberlin said. "It's become a bedroom community of Savannah. Talking with some of the coaches, they tell me there's some young talent there. They beat Statesboro and Ware County [two playoff teams from Region 2-AAAA]. The facilities are good, and the school is just beautiful. I'm convinced they want a championship program."
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