The football coaches have seen turnover like never before in Class A-3A Private this offseason. The smallest classification in the state will feature eight new head coaches entering the upcoming season, meaning one in four schools making a change. In addition to the new hires, the rest of the classification has very few long-tenured coaches, with 16 of the 24 teams led by coaches who have been with their programs for less than four years. meaning the majority of the class has yet to see a full graduating cycle under their current coach.
When looking at the newly filled jobs, two stand out: the two state finals teams, Prince Avenue and Hebron Christian. Both schools lost legendary coaches, though their paths and experiences have been very different. Hebron’s Jonathan Gess built his name at Eagle’s Landing Christian, where he won six championships. He spent three seasons with the Lions, building them from the ground up and breaking nearly every school record in 2024. On the other side of the championship, Greg Vandagriff left Prince Avenue after nine seasons at the helm. During his tenure, the program reached the finals five straight years and won three championships.
So, what has caused this massive turnover of coaches at private schools? It comes down to a few simple factors. One significant reason is age. Many coaches in private schools have had long tenures and, for some, it’s simply time to call it a career. A prime example is Calvary Day’s Mark Stroud, who retired after 16 seasons with Calvary Day and 33 years in coaching overall.
Another major factor is money. The financial piece is twofold. On one hand, many private schools have heavily invested in their athletic programs and expect success. That investment creates pressure and short leashes for coaches, leading to early firings or coaches leaving voluntarily for less demanding jobs.
The other side of the money equation is opportunity. As private schools pour resources into their football programs, they can often offer better salaries, upgraded facilities, and more support. For many coaches, that kind of investment creates an appealing next step in their careers, whether it’s a better job, better facilities, more resources, or simply more pay. Causing many coaches to leave programs for better positions in or out of state.
Around the class, boys - Prince Avenue baseball won the first game of a three-game series against Hebron Christian, 4-2. … Lovett baseball improved to 19-3 on the season with a 7-1 victory over Harrison. … Calvary Day baseball moved to 15-6 on the season with a 10-1 win over Long County.
Around the class, girls – Lovett soccer secured a big win over GAC, knocking off the top-ranked team in the class. … Paideia soccer closed out the regular season with a 4-0 win over Walker. … Whitefield Academy soccer improved to 7-2 on the season with a 9-0 victory over Landmark Christian.
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