Coaching hires: Ridings steps down at Thomson, joins Prince Avenue staff

ajc.com

Thomson football coach Rob Ridings retired as a public school teacher on Thursday and accepted a position as Prince Avenue Christians’ defensive coordinator.

Ridings, who just completed his 30th year teaching and coaching in public schools, was 39-13 in four years at Thomson and led the bulldogs to two region titles and the Class AAAA championship game in 2016. Ridings also was head coach at Glynn Academy (2004-13) and Troup (1996-98).

Ridings was an assistant coach on state-championship teams at Thomson (2002) and LaGrange (2001). His career record is 119-73.

There have been 65 openings for head coaches in the off-season. Here are others that have not been reported here.

Dudley takes Winder-Barrow job

Winder-Barrow has hired Wesleyan offensive coordinator Ed Dudley to replace Heath Webb, who took the head-coaching job at Gainesville. Dudley’s record as a head coach is 193-87 in 24 seasons with stops at Carrollton (2014-15), Ware County (2009-13), Walton (1995-2008) and Buford (1992-94). His teams have won seven region championships. His Ware County team was the Class AAAAA runner-up to Gainesville in 2012. A St. Pius graduate, Dudley began his coaching career on the staff of Clarke Central’s Billy Henderson in the 1980s.

Americus-Sumter hires Harold

Americus-Sumter has hired Larry Harold as head coach to replace Erik Soliday, who retired from public-school coaching and became head coach at Tiftarea Acadey of the GHSA. Harold is best known as the high school head coach of Georgia All-America linebacker Roquan Smith while at Macon County (2012-14). The 2014 Macon County team won its first region title in seven years. Harold also has been head coach at Brunswick (2015-16). His record is 29-34.

Landmark Christian picks South Paulding assistant

Landmark Christian has hired South Paulding defensive coordinator Joe Scott to replace Wayne Brantley, who was let go after six seasons. Scott has coached high school football for 15 years. Scott played for Division 1-AA national championship teams in 1999 and 2000 at Georgia Southern. Landmark’s streak of 17 winning seasons ended in 2017 with an 0-10 finish.

Off-season openings and hires:

Americus-Sumter: Larry Harold

Apalachee: Tony Lotti

Armuchee: Jeremy Green

Banks County: Chad Cheatham

Berkmar: Willie Gary

Berrien: Tim Alligood

Bowdon: Richard Fendley

Brantley County: Geoff Cannon

Bryan County: Abram Scott

Carver (Columbus): Corey Joyner

Central (Macon): Open

Cherokee Bluff: Tommy Jones

Crawford County: Jhon Smith

Creekview: Adam Carter

Dacula: Clint Jenkins

Denmark: Terry Crowder

Dougherty: Damien Gary

East Laurens: Bin Turner

Fannin County: Open

Franklin County: Paul Sutherland

Gainesville: Heath Webb

Grady: Kevin Clark

Greene County: Larry Milligan

Hiram: Pete Fominaya

Johnson (Savannah): Kenderrick Bonner

Jordan: Open

Kendrick: Andre Slappey

Kennesaw Mountain: Caleb Carmean

KIPP Atlanta Collegiate: Open

LaFayette: Paul Ellis

LaGrange: Chuck Gibbs

Landmark Christian: Joe Scott

Lanier County: Kurt Williams

Lincoln County: Open

McIntosh County Academy: Tony Glazer

Metter: Rodney Garvin

Miller Grove: Lee Hannah

Model: Richard Ross

Mountain View: Rob Kellogg

North Paulding: Jim Bob Bryant

Northgate: Mike McDonald

Northside (Columbus): Dave Nurnberg

Pataula Charter: Open

Putnam County: Shaun Pope

Ridgeland: Courtney Braswell

Riverdale: Corey Jarvis

Riverwood: Robert Edwards

Rockdale County: Jamie Baldwin

Savannah Christian: Baker Woodward

South Paulding: Jason Thompson

Southeast Bulloch: Barrett Davis

St. Francis: Open

Stephens County: Wesley Tankersley

Thomas County Central: Ashley Henderson

Treutlen: Steve Versprille

Tri-Cities: Innis Claud

Twiggs County: Kelvin Blackshear

Veterans: Milan Turner

Walnut Grove: Robert Andrews

West Hall: Krofton Montgomery

Westover: Olten Downs

Wheeler County: Open

Whitefield Academy: Coleman Joiner

Wilcox County: Ken Cofer

Winder-Barrow: Ed Dudley