Chip Walker, who won three state titles at Sandy Creek, is the new head coach at Newnan, a Class AAAAAAA school about 25 minutes away.
‘’Newnan is a program that you see and think how good of a job that could be because of the community and great facilities, and they’ve always had good players,’’ Walker said. “It’s everything you’re looking for.’’
Walker said that Newnan officials contacted him first but that the interest was instantly mutual. Walker has been Sandy Creek’s head coach for 12 years, and he was an assistant for six seasons prior, coming on the staff of his father, Rodney Walker.
‘’I hadn’t formally interviewed for a job in a long time,’’ Walker said. ‘’I wasn’t one of those guys that’s always looking for the next job. Sandy Creek is a great place, and it’s been good to my family.’’
Under Walker, Sandy Creek was 127-26-1 in 12 seasons and won state titles in 2009 (AAAA), 2010 (AAA) and 2012 (AAAA).
Only three coaches in history reached 100 Georgia victories faster than Walker, who made the milestone in 118 games. Walker's 41-game winning streak from 2009 to 2011 is the fifth-longest in state history.
Walker said the move to a higher classification was not a factor in his decision.
‘’No, not to me,’’ Walker said. ‘’It doesn’t matter what classification we play in. We’ve always played teams from higher classifications here [at Sandy Creek]. Football is football. We’re going to go in and do what we can to build it back into a championship program.’’
Walker will replace Mike McDonald, whose teams were 56-37 in eight seasons, including 3-7 in 2016.
Newnan has won 10 region titles but never a state championship.
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