HSFB 2018: New coaches? Central Georgia has plenty

By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com
 

            There are a hair more than 90 new head football coaches in the state, according to the Georgia High School Football Historians Associations expansive website.

            Almost 13 percent are from Central Georgia.

            One already has had his debut, Howard’s Paul Carroll, whose Huskies battled ranked Class 5A Jones County Thursday night in a 34-28 loss.

            Central has its third head coach in three seasons, as does Northeast, Twiggs County. East Laurens is on No. 4 since 2014.

            Wilkinson County has a new coach for the first time in more than 20 years, James Hagins quietly retiring in the offseason.

            Several promoted from within: Central, Dooly County, Howard, Putnam County, and Wilkinson County.

            And alums have taken over at Central, Northeast, and Twiggs County.

            Veterans’ Milan Turner and Dooly County’s Corey Jarvis bring some hardware to their new jobs.

            Turner’s worst season at Class A ECI was 6-4, and the Bulldogs followed that with three straight 10-0 regular seasons, going 15-0 in 2007.  He had a 10-0 season (12-1) at Thomson in 2012. Turner comes from an assistant spot at Class 6A Coffee.

            Jarvis had three 4-6 seasons at Duluth, and then went 30-9 at Mays. One of those losses was to Northside in the 2014 Class 5A championship game. He went 49-11 at M.L. King in his first head coaching job.

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Central

Joaquin Sample, replaced Larry Harold, who went to Americus-Sumter after one season. The Central grad was on the staff.

Central Fellowship

Jake Walls, replaced Richard Hodges. Had been head basketball and assistant football coach at Westfield until a few years ago.

Crawford County

Jhon Smith, replaced Greg Street, now defensive coordinator at Rutland, coming from Lee County.

Dooly County

Corey Jarvis, replaced Jimmy Hughes, who went to Crisp County as AD. Was on staff, former assistant at Mary Persons.

East Laurens

Bin Turner, replaced Chris Robinson after two seasons.

Howard

Paul Carroll, replaced Barney Hester. Was on staff for a year, coming up from Warner Robins.

Monticello

Rydell Jackson, replaced Doug Huff after five seasons.

Northeast

Jeremy Wiggins, replaced Bruce Mullen, who retired. The Northeast grad and former App State standout assisted at Northeast before spending 2017 at Warner Robins.

Putnam County

Shaun Pope, promoted from defensive coordinator to replace Kyle Gourley, released after five seasons. Pope has been at Toombs County, Ware County, and East Laurens.

Twiggs County

Kelvin Blackshear, replaced Zackery Harris, who was fired after one season. The Twiggs County grad played under Dexter Copeland.

Veterans

Milan Turner, replaced David Bruce, who was fired after eight seasons. Was an assistant at Coffee, was a highly successful head coach at ECI.

Wilkinson County

Keldrick Burke, promoted to replace James Hagins.

Windsor

Matt Britt, replaces Bill Beatty as the team moves to 8-man football.