After receiving more than 200 applicants for its head coaching vacancy, Carrollton is set to hire 2009-13 Ware County head coach Ed Dudley. The St. Pius graduate has been one of the most successful head coaches in the state with a combined record of 183-75 in his 22 seasons at the helm according to the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. Dudley is familiar with the Trojans program and spent the 1988-91 seasons as Carrollton’s defensive coordinator under head coach Ben Scott. In his four seasons as coordinator, Dudley’s defense held 35 opponents to single digits, including 21 shutouts. Dudley’s defensive prowess landed him his first head coaching job at Buford in 1992. Following his time at Buford Dudley spent 14 seasons at Walton, making the playoffs 12 times. Walton’s fieldhouse is named after Dudley.
In 2009, Dudley took over the Ware County head coaching job and led the Gators to 44 wins the past four seasons, including an appearance in the Class AAAAA state championship in 2012.
Dudley could not comment on the hire until it becomes official, which could be as soon as Tuesday.
Dudley replaces Rayvan Teague, who retired from coaching last month with a 220-69-1 overall record during his 24 seasons as a head coach. Carrollton has seen just four head coaches since 1957.
Dudley’s son, Gordon, plays tight end and will spend his senior season at Carrollton after contributing in the Ware County offense his sophomore and junior seasons. Gordon was one of the 72 juniors invited to play in the Elite Junior Classic this past December.
Carrollton opens its season in the 2014 Metro PCS Corky Kell Classic with an 8:45 a.m. kickoff against the Kell Longhorns.