As we enter the 2023 football season, it’s always a MUST to see who will lead each team on the gridiron this season. After major turnover (4 new coaches entered the mix last season), everyone stayed put for 2023.

Here are the coaches leading the programs, and their respective track records (order by number of seasons).

Sid Maxwell – Dawson County Tigers

29 Seasons // 9th Year at Dawson Co

Maxwell enters year nine at Dawson County and 29th season overall as a head coach. Once again, he’ll get to showcase his knack for reloading a roster and still being near or at the top of the region. Maxwell is a BLITZ Legendary Coach.

Total Record: 191-114

2022: 8-3 (6-0 7-AAA; Region Champions), 1st Round

All Stops (3)
Dawson Co: 63-31 (2015-Present [8 years])
Lambert: 31-16 (2009-13 [5 years])
Sequoyah: 97-67 (1994-2008 [15 years])

Playoffs: 19 Appearances (13-19); 2 Quarterfinals Runs [’04, ’15]

Region Titles: 3 [2022, 2015, 2003]

All-State Players: 31

Outlook: Maxwell and his 191 wins rank 12th among the active coaches in the state, and he is by far the winningest coach in Dawson County history. He’s closing in on 200 wins, which he could reach this season. After going unbeaten in 7-AAA, Dawson claimed its second region championship (both under Maxwell). With Davis Glass returning at QB and Dom LeBlanc at WR, the skill positions should be just fine. If the defense retools from mainstays like Kade Moledor and Cade Adams, this team has a shot to be in the mix once again for a region title.

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Travis Noland – Jefferson Dragons

19 Seasons in GA (26 Overall) // 2nd Year at Jefferson

Noland enters year two at Jefferson, 19th in the state of Georgia, and 26th overall. He’s not far removed from back-to-back State Championship game appearances in 2019 and 2020, coming over from Oconee County. He not only has talented players in his arsenal, but gets the maximum talent from those players. Noland is a BLITZ Legendary Coach.

Total Record: 151-60 in GA; 197-92 overall

2022: 8-3 (6-0 8-AAAAA; Region Champions), 1st Round

All Stops (5)
Jefferson: 8-3 (2022-Present [1 year])
Oconee County: 70-27 (2014-21 [8 years])
Stephens County: 73-30 (2005-13 [9 years])
Tuscola (NC): 17-6 (2003-04 [2 years])
Clyde Erwin (NC): 29-26 (1998-02 [5 years])

Playoffs: 17 Appearances [22 Overall] (19-22); 3 Quarterfinals runs in GA & NC [’05, ’19, ’20]; 2 State Championship Appearances [’19, ’20]

Region Titles: 7 [2022, 2020, 2019, 2015, 2007, 2006, 2005]

All-State Players: 40

Outlook: Noland is just 3 wins shy of 200 for his career, and is 11th in the state among active coaches. He’s got 7 region titles in his pocket at this point, but this year could be a special group. Last season was a first for Noland in dealing with the tragic murder of star receiver Elijah Dewitt, and yet still he rallied the team to a region title. An early playoff exit has the Dragons hungrier than ever especially with Sammy Brown’s final season, and D-I players all through the roster including Brown (Clemson commit), Brian Center (OL), Kelan Butler (LB/DE), Max Brown (RB/S/LB), Skyler Zimmerman (LB/TE), and new QB Gavin Markey. It’s a loaded roster with HIGH expectations.

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Wesley Tankersley – Stephens County Indians

16 Seasons // 6th Year at Stephens Co

Tankersley enters his 16th season overall and 6th at Stephens County. After a Region Championship, Tankersley will look to build off the new, high expectations.

Total Record: 95-69

2022: 9-3 (4-1 8-AAA), 2nd Round

All Stops (3)
Stephens Co: 28-25 (2018-Present [5 years])
Ridgeland: 24-10 (2015-17 [3 years])
Gilmer: 41-34 (2008-14 [7 years])

Playoffs: 10 Appearances (5-10)

Region Titles: 3 [2022, 2017, 2016]

All-State Players: 26

Outlook: Tankersley got his third region title, and is now just 5 wins shy of 100. Yes, the Indians have lost a TON in skill positions, but with players like Javin Gordon, Jasec Smith, Aidan Butts, and others back, Stephens County should still be in the discussion for the region title, and are an easy choice to again make the playoffs.

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Heath Webb – Lumpkin County Indians

14 Seasons // 2nd Year at Lumpkin Co

This is Webb’s second season at Lumpkin and 14th overall. He has a blue collar work ethic that rubs off on his players, as evidenced last season for the Indians.

Total Record: 69-70

2022: 8-3 (4-2 Region 7-AAA), 1st Round

All Stops (4)
Lumpkin Co: 8-3 (2022-Present [1 year])
Gainesville: 18-25 (2018-2021 [4 years])
Winder-Barrow: 26-19 (2014-2017 [4 years])
North Paulding: 17-23 (2008-2011 [4 years])

Playoffs: 8 Appearances (1-8)

Region Titles: 0

All-State Players: 13

Outlook: Webb took over a program with good kids and talent, but no knowledge of how to win. He instilled that in the same group that won just 2 games the year prior. He guided that group to 8 wins, a Region Runner-Up finish, a playoff trip for the first time since 2014, and a home playoff game for the first time ever. With Cal Faulkner shifting to QB, and Mason Sullens and Will Wood back, this team once again will be in a spot to win the region.

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Benji Harrison – Habersham Central Raiders

12 Seasons // 9th Year at Habersham

Harrison enters year 12 overall and 9th season at Habersham Central, where he is now the second-longest tenured coach in program history behind just Larry Black.

Total Record: 42-73

2022: 3-7 (1-5 8-AAAAAA), No Playoffs

All Stops (2)
Habersham Central: 30-53 (2015-Present [8 years])
Jackson Co: 12-20 (2012-14 [3 years])

Playoffs: 4 Appearances (1-4)

Region Titles: 0

All-State Players: 11

Outlook: Harrison has Carson Parker back for his final season at QB, and Zeke Whittington at WR. That’s a huge combo potentially. Beyond that, he will have to train up several young players to fill the voids left by seniors the year prior.

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Jason Roquemore – Towns County Indians

12 Seasons // 5th Year at Towns Co

This is Roquemore’s 5th year as head coach at Towns County and 12th overall. He now has his imprint well-placed on this program. This year should be telling.

Total Record: 23-76

2022: 3-7 (1-4 8-A DII), No Playoffs

All Stops (2)
Towns Co: 10-29 (2019-Present [4 years])
Johnson: 16-54 (2012-18 [7 years])

Playoffs: 0 Appearances

Region Titles: 0

All-State Players: 2

Outlook: Roquemore had a struggling offense last season, but will return 3-year starter Connor Chastain at QB. Several others will need to take the next step for this team to compete in 8-A DII, but the defense was one of the best Towns County has rolled out in quite some time.

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Mark Hollars – Commerce Tigers

8 Seasons // 3rd Year at Commerce

This is Hollars’ 3rd season at Commerce and 8th overall. He is a mild mannered coach who expects big things from his players.

Total Record: 42-34

2022: 6-5 (1-2 Region 8-A DI), 1st Round

All Stops (2)
Commerce: 12-9 (2021-Present [2 years])
North Cobb Christian: 30-25 (2016-2020 [5 years])

Playoffs: 5 Appearances (4-5); 1 Quarterfinals appearance [2018]

Region Titles: 0

All-State Players: 7

Outlook: Hollars made some noise last season with the Tigers knocking off an out-of-state #1-ranked team on the road, and taking powerhouse Rabun County to the brink in a Region Championship game. With Jaiden Daniels and Tysean Wiggins leading the rushing attack, as well as Jacari Huff rolling it back, there’s no reason not to like Commerce’s chances in 2023.

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Michael Perry – Union County Panthers

7 Seasons // 3rd Year at Union Co

This is Perry’s 3rd year at Union and 7th overall. He is an offensive-minded coach who is great at getting his guys hyped up before big games.

Total Record: 32-31

2022: 8-4 (3-2 Region 8-AA), 2nd Round

All Stops (3)
Union Co: 11-11 (2021-Present [2 years])
East Hall: 6-12 (2019-20 [2 years])
Centennial: 15-8 (2017-18 [2 years])

Playoffs: 4 Appearances (2-4)

Region Titles: 0

All-State Players: 4

Outlook: Perry has quickly gotten Union County back to a high level. His offense generated 341 points, and nearly all the big-time playmakers return including QB Caiden Tanner, WR Jensen Goble, and RBs Braylen Rader and Connor Schuknecht, this Panthers team could be the best version since perhaps 2019.

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Jay Reid – Banks County Leopards

6 Seasons // 6th Year at Banks Co

Reid enters his 6th season at Banks and overall. He has unfortunately dealt with an outbreak of injuries on his roster nearly every season at Banks, but still has hopes for a run at a playoff berth.

Total Record: 15-36

2022: 5-5 (1-4 Region 8-AA), No Playoffs

All Stops (1)
Banks Co: 15-36 (2018-Present [5 years])

Playoffs: 2 Appearances (0-2)

Region Titles: 0

All-State Players: 1

Outlook: Banks County rode Andrew Shockley to a 5-win season, the best since 2017. The 4-0 start was the best in decades, but things unraveled quite quickly when the Leopards dropped 5 straight after that. They ended with a win to close on a high note, but with Shockley gone, a lot will fall on Aaron Scott, Kolby Watson, and others offensively. The defense should be fine with Cam Cooper and Robert Walker back for another season.

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Michael Davis – Rabun Co Wildcats

2 Seasons // 2nd Year at Rabun Co

Michael Davis’ first season as a head coach went very well – 12 wins, a region title, and a quarterfinals run. He’s back for a 2nd year to see if he can build off that.

Total Record: 12-1

2022: 12-1 (3-0 Region 8-A DI), Quarterfinals

All Stops (1)
Rabun Co: 12-1 (2022-Present [1 year])

Playoffs: 1 Appearance (2-1); 1 Quarterfinal Appearance [2022]

Region Titles: 1 [2022]

All-State Players: 5

Outlook: An extremely-talented group of Wildcats won the program’s 9th straight title and made an 8th straight quarterfinal-or-deeper run. Let that sink in. Davis loses the state’s all-time best receiver in Jaden Gibson and several big-time athletes. BUT Davis has the next-best legacy QB in Ty Truelove, D-I Cincinnatti commit Willie Goodwyn, and others such as Paul Picciotti, Jarret Giles, Hayden Ross, and Jack Hood.

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Chad Bennett – White Co Warriors

2 Seasons // 2nd Year at White Co

Chad Bennett had a decent first year for a young White County team. He enters his second season overall.

Total Record: 4-6

2022: 4-6 (2-4 Region 7-AAA), No Playoffs

All Stops (1)
White Co: 4-6 (2022-Present [1 year])

Playoffs: 0 Appearances

Region Titles: 0

All-State Players: 2

Outlook: Tripp Nix took the next big step that White County needed. Guys like Cam Wilson, Caysen Duvall, Ryan Fowler, and others proved to be top talents as well. If the defense can take on the task of improving, and the offensive weapons play a year better, this could be a great season for Bennett and White County.