Former Dutchtown and Mays head coach Niketa Battle has accepted the head coaching position at Banneker High School in South Fulton. Battle was let go from Dutchtown earlier this month after four starters transferred out of the program.
He has been highly successful in his previous stops, winning 10 or more games four times. At Mays, he led the Raiders to five playoff appearances, three region titles, and two quarterfinal appearances. In 2022, he took over at Dutchtown, where he led the Bulldogs to a region championship and the first semifinal appearance in school history.
Banneker is coming out of a challenging era, under former head coach Braxton Kelly. During his tenure the Trojans went 15-26 over four seasons, making the playoffs just once. Additionally the program has not won a playoff game since 2007 and has never advanced past the second round.
Despite this, Battle inherits a roster with several standout players. Running back Kelian Allen returns after rushing for 1,008 yards and six touchdowns, while also catching three touchdown passes. On defense, the Trojans bring back two talented defensive ends, Dominick Williams and Quentin Hand, who combined for seven sacks, 22 quarterback hurries, and 15 tackles for loss. In the secondary, Darrius White returns after an impressive sophomore season, recording two interceptions.
Battle is returning to the area where he had his most successful stint, at Mays in South Fulton. His experience winning at schools similar to Banneker will be invaluable as he looks to turn the Trojans into a contender.
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