As we enter the 2024 football season, it’s always a MUST to see who will lead each team on the gridiron this season. After all head coaches last year had been in place from the year prior, this time one new one joins the list.

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

Sid Maxwell – Dawson County Tigers

30 Seasons // 10th Year at Dawson Co

BLITZ Legendary Coach

Total Record: 193-122

2023: 2-8 (2-4 7-AAA), No Playoffs

All Stops (3)
Dawson Co: 65-39 (2015-Present [9 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: 33

Outlook: After his first non-playoff season since 2012 at Lambert, he’ll be itching to get the Tigers back into contention – and is just 7 wins shy of 200! Maxwell and his 191 wins rank 11th among the active coaches in the state, and he is by far the winningest coach in Dawson County history. He had a QB situation last year, giving Davis Glass’ starting job over to Preston Bannister. A new QB with an arm is in the mix too (Cash Watkins), and he’ll push for playing time somewhere. Someone needs to become the clear-cut starter, as well as at RB (enter Cody McBrayer). The defense needs to take a big step forward.

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Travis Noland – Jefferson Dragons

20 Seasons in GA (27 Overall) // 3rd Year at Jefferson

BLITZ Legendary Coach

Total Record: 164-61 in GA; 210-93 overall

2023: 13-1 (6-0 8-AAAAA; Region Champions), Semifinals

All Stops (5)
Jefferson: 21-4 (2022-Present [2 years])
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: 18 Appearances [23 Overall] (22-23); 4 Quarterfinals runs in GA & NC [’05, ’19, ’20, ’23]; 1 Semifinals Run (’23), 2 State Championship Appearances [’19, ’20]

Region Titles: 8 [2023, 2022, 2020, 2019, 2015, 2007, 2006, 2005]

All-State Players: 44

Outlook: Noland eclipsed 200 career wins last year, and is 10th among active coaches in Georgia in career wins. He’s got 8 region titles in his pocket at this point. He brings back a lot of talent, though it will be a bit of a new identity with the graduation of Sammy Brown. Max Brown stands a chance to be just as good, and 4-star Kelan Butler is back as well as starting QB Gavin Markey.

Wesley Tankersley – Stephens County Indians

17 Seasons // 7th Year at Stephens Co

Total Record: 105-71

2023: 10-2 (4-1 8-AAA; Region Champions), 2nd Round

All Stops (3)
Stephens Co: 38-27 (2018-Present [6 years])
Ridgeland: 24-10 (2015-17 [3 years])
Gilmer: 41-34 (2008-14 [7 years])

Playoffs: 11 Appearances (6-11)

Region Titles: 4 [2023, 2022, 2017, 2016]

All-State Players: 32

Outlook: Tankersley got his 4th region title and 2nd in a row, and reached 100 career wins. Some incredible weapons graduated, but he will lean heavily on Javin Gordon (Duke commit) and QB Tripp Underwood among others.

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Heath Webb – Lumpkin County Indians

15 Seasons // 3rd Year at Lumpkin Co

Total Record: 81-71

2023: 12-1 (6-0 Region 7-AAA; Region Champions), Quarterfinals

All Stops (4)
Lumpkin Co: 20-4 (2022-Present [2 years])
Gainesville: 18-25 (2018-2021 [4 years])
Winder-Barrow: 26-19 (2014-2017 [4 years])
North Paulding: 17-23 (2008-2011 [4 years])

Playoffs: 9 Appearances (3-9); 1 Quarterfinal (2024)

Region Titles: 1 [2023]

All-State Players: 17

Outlook: Webb has been absolutely fantastic at Lumpkin County. He has taken the program to unmatched heights with a region title and quarterfinal run. Cal Faulkner’s shift from WR to QB was a smashing success, and he’s back along with some stud receivers and plenty of defensive stars and linemen. The big void will be Mason Sullens, who had 2K yards and was a bowling ball (Nolan Matthews moves from standout WR to the bell-cow back). Aside from that, this should be another great year for Webb’s Indians.

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Benji Harrison – Habersham Central Raiders

13 Seasons // 10th Year at Habersham

Total Record: 47-79

2023: 5-6 (3-3 8-AAAAAA), Rnd 1

All Stops (2)
Habersham Central: 35-59 (2015-Present [9 years])
Jackson Co: 12-20 (2012-14 [3 years])

Playoffs: 5 Appearances (1-5)

Region Titles: 0

All-State Players: 12

Outlook: Harrison has now been at Habersham Central for 10 years, becoming just the second ever in Raiders history to stay a decade, only trailing Larry Black (11 seasons). He’s had 3 playoff runs for the Raiders, and will have his starting QB, RB, and star WR all back in 2024 in DJ Pass, Antonio Cantrell, and Zeke Whittington.

Todd Winter – Banks County Leopards

13 Seasons // 1st Year at Banks Co

Total Record: 90-46

2023: 8-3 (3-2 Region 6-AAAA), Rnd 1 *at Holy Innocents

All Stops (3)
Banks Co: 0-0 (2024-Present [0 years])
Holy Innocents: 55-27 (2017-2023 [7 years])
Pinecrest Academy: 35-19 (2012-2016 [5 years])

Playoffs: 9 Appearances (11-9); 4 Quarterfinals (2015, 2019, 2021, 2022)

Region Titles: 4 [2022, 2021, 2019, 2015]

All-State Players: 19

Outlook: This has a chance to be a HOMERUN hire for Banks County. This is the most successful coach brought into Homer in quite some time, with a fantastic pedigree. He’s coming off his 9th playoff run in 13 seasons as a head coach, and has 4 region titles and 4 quarterfinals or deeper runs. Now, it might take some patience, but he has enough in the cupboard at Banks County to make a quick leap with key players like RB Aucy Jacobs, LB Cam Cooper among others. The triple option will now be the offensive scheme.

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Jason Roquemore – Towns County Indians

13 Seasons // 6th Year at Towns Co

Total Record: 26-93

2023: 0-10 (0-5 8-A DII), No Playoffs

All Stops (2)
Towns Co: 10-39 (2019-Present [5 years])
Johnson: 16-54 (2012-18 [7 years])

Playoffs: 0 Appearances

Region Titles: 0

All-State Players: 2

Outlook: Roquemore enters his 6th year at Towns County, and looking to take a new step after a winless 2023. Longtime starting QB Connor Chastain is gone, but Dustin Barrett will be the guy this time as the standout RB, as the Indians will play a full non-region schedule in hopes of building a winning foundation.

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Mark Hollars – Commerce Tigers

9 Seasons // 4th Year at Commerce

Total Record: 53-37

2023: 11-2 (3-0 Region 8-A DI, Region Champions), Quarterfinals

All Stops (2)
Commerce: 23-12 (2021-Present [3 years])
North Cobb Christian: 30-25 (2016-2020 [5 years])

Playoffs: 6 Appearances (6-6); 2 Quarterfinals appearances [2023, 2018]

Region Titles: 1 [2023]

All-State Players: 14

Outlook: Hollars’ best season yet was last year’s 11-win juggernaut that ran wild behind Jaiden Daniels, Tysean Wiggins, and Jacari Huff. That trio returns for one more go at a hopeful repeat as Region Champions and besting the Quarterfinals run.

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Michael Perry – Union County Panthers

8 Seasons // 4th Year at Union Co

Total Record: 40-35

2023: 8-4 (3-2 Region 8-AA), 2nd Round

All Stops (3)
Union Co: 19-15 (2021-Present [3 years])
East Hall: 6-12 (2019-20 [2 years])
Centennial: 15-8 (2017-18 [2 years])

Playoffs: 5 Appearances (3-5)

Region Titles: 0

All-State Players: 8

Outlook: Perry has a HUGE task ahead with a nearly complete overhaul of the roster, as QB Caiden Tanner, RB Braylen Rader, and WRs Jensen Goble, Tyler Grasty, and Evan McBride all graduated, as well as standout defensive players like Lane Lance and Seth Rutan. The go-to athletes early on will be Cade Dockery, Tyler Parker, and Connor Schuknecht.

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Michael Davis – Rabun Co Wildcats

3 Seasons // 3rd Year at Rabun Co

Total Record: 21-5

2023: 9-4 (1-2 Region 8-A DI), Quarterfinals

All Stops (1)
Rabun Co: 21-5 (2022-Present [2 years])

Playoffs: 2 Appearances (4-2); 2 Quarterfinal Appearances [2023, 2022]

Region Titles: 1 [2022]

All-State Players: 8

Outlook: Despite failing to win a region title for the first time in a decade, the Wildcats still got to a 9th straight Quarterfinals, as Michael Davis had to retool the roster, overcome several key injuries, and get some young guys up to speed. He’ll lose next-level standouts Willie Goodwyn and Jack Hood, but with Ty Truelove, Reid Giles, and Noah English all coming back for their junior year, they should be a force on offense. The receiving group will need to find some playmakers quickly, and the line, though bolstered by guys like Alex Yearwood, Michael Johnson, and Zach Gordon, will be key to the success of the team.

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Chad Bennett – White Co Warriors

3 Seasons // 3rd Year at White Co

Total Record: 9-12

2023: 5-6 (3-3 Region 7-AAA), Rnd 1

All Stops (1)
White Co: 9-12 (2022-Present [2 years])

Playoffs: 1 Appearance (0-1)

Region Titles: 0

All-State Players: 4

Outlook: Tripp Nix is back for his senior year as a 4-year starter at QB, and Jon Scott on defense is going to be key. The breakout WR Gaines Clark returns also, so the team should be stout, though someone will need to replace RB Ryan Fowler (enter Noel Lammers) and athletes Caysen Duvall, Cam Wilson, and Vondre Nelson. Chad Bennett’s team should take on more of his DNA this season as these are now fully his guys.

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