Supporters defend ex-head football coach
Parents and former students rallied this week behind an ex-head football coach — who recently resigned from his athletic position at Jackson County Comprehensive High School.
Coach Billy Kirk announced two weeks ago that after a five-year run at JCCHS — where he compiled a 12-37-1 record — that he was resigning as head football coach of the Panthers. However, he will remain a teacher at the school.
The Jackson County Board of Education heard from those tied to the football program or the school during its meetings on Thursday and Monday.
While Kirk hasn’t publicly said that he was forced to resign as head football coach — based on the accounts of those speaking to the school board that seems to be the case.
“For a school with a lackluster football history, you couldn’t have done the players and the Panther community, more of a disservice,” wrote Ryan Howe, a former JCCHS football player who is studying at the Air Force Academy in Colorado. “We expect better from you. Next time a good coach comes along, maybe you can put more effort into keeping him there.”
Former longtime BOE member Jill Elliott — who said she has custody of a football player — urged the school board to correct what she considers a bad decision.
“I believe our football coach has been a great role model,” she said. “I believe that he has brought his family here. He invested his life here. And he had every intention of staying. I don’t think he wanted to leave under the circumstances. A lot of the parents were shocked.”
Although the Panthers didn’t have a winning season, Elliott said the community was starting to have pride in its football program. The school has had eight head football coaches in 24 years, and the community didn’t want another leadership change for its team, she added. The school’s football program was started 31 years ago in 1980.
But now that Kirk is no longer at the helm of the Panthers football program, those speaking to the board of education suggested how the school system look for its next head coach.
Jackson County High School graduate Ricky Sanders — director of the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department — suggested that the district establish a search committee to hire Kirk’s replacement.
“We need to seek the best coach in the state for this job,” Sanders said. “The new coach should make winning and building on the current foundation a priority and be committed to be at Jackson County a long time.”
Sanders further suggested that the district give the JCCHS football program more resources — such as upgrades at Panther Stadium and hiring more teachers that can also serve as coaches. He also recommended that the school system change its policy to allow out-of-district students to enroll at its schools.
For the full story, see the Dec. 14 issue of The Jackson Herald.
The Jackson County Board of Education heard from those tied to the football program or the school during its meetings on Thursday and Monday.
While Kirk hasn’t publicly said that he was forced to resign as head football coach — based on the accounts of those speaking to the school board that seems to be the case.
“For a school with a lackluster football history, you couldn’t have done the players and the Panther community, more of a disservice,” wrote Ryan Howe, a former JCCHS football player who is studying at the Air Force Academy in Colorado. “We expect better from you. Next time a good coach comes along, maybe you can put more effort into keeping him there.”
Former longtime BOE member Jill Elliott — who said she has custody of a football player — urged the school board to correct what she considers a bad decision.
“I believe our football coach has been a great role model,” she said. “I believe that he has brought his family here. He invested his life here. And he had every intention of staying. I don’t think he wanted to leave under the circumstances. A lot of the parents were shocked.”
Although the Panthers didn’t have a winning season, Elliott said the community was starting to have pride in its football program. The school has had eight head football coaches in 24 years, and the community didn’t want another leadership change for its team, she added. The school’s football program was started 31 years ago in 1980.
But now that Kirk is no longer at the helm of the Panthers football program, those speaking to the board of education suggested how the school system look for its next head coach.
Jackson County High School graduate Ricky Sanders — director of the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department — suggested that the district establish a search committee to hire Kirk’s replacement.
“We need to seek the best coach in the state for this job,” Sanders said. “The new coach should make winning and building on the current foundation a priority and be committed to be at Jackson County a long time.”
Sanders further suggested that the district give the JCCHS football program more resources — such as upgrades at Panther Stadium and hiring more teachers that can also serve as coaches. He also recommended that the school system change its policy to allow out-of-district students to enroll at its schools.
For the full story, see the Dec. 14 issue of The Jackson Herald.
I am in no way stating that Coach Kirk is a bad coach or a bad man. I honestly like the man and I have had to deal with him on a personal level many times. Any man to sit at a hospital with you late while your son is in surgery knowing that the next day he had a big game to win, is a great man. I will always be grateful for his support. I have two boys on that team and yes one of them is also in the band. I support BOTH programs and other programs at that school and will continue to do so in the future regardless of who shall be the next coach.
The band has had to take more cuts than any other program in the school- forced to not attend games/parades and other outings because of lack of funds to provide transportation.
Many of the trips they have taken have been completely funded by the band for the band, through fund raisers and support from the Band Parents. Instead of the football program complaining because they don't have what they think they need to win -- they should put in more effort to raise money for themselves.
I find it hard to have respect for a program always blaming everyone else for their short comings and walking around with their hands out.
Yeah, me neither.
Then develop the kids at the rec level to compete at the the school level, JC will never have a winning team until the issue is addressed at the Rec. Dept.!!
Yes, there were several players who earned football scholarships in the last 5 years and next year we'll have a few more too. We hope to have a whole slew of them in the coming years.
Since Ricky is unable to provide the programs to support the High School.....He needs to GO!!
Years ago, my brother played for Jackson Co. and I ended up playing for a Hall Co. school. But the one thing I will never forget .. the difference in attitude and level of excitement of the parents and fans. Panther Football has never had it because it never started early on.
I was especially happy to see Rick Sanders there and on the agenda to speak, and what a presentation it was. Rick, I'm proud of you for stepping out there on the issue, even though you are in a unique position, by being a JC middle school coach and heading up the JCPRD. Your presence meant a heck of a lot and in timely fashion too. Rick had extremely valuable suggestions to the school board. I just hope JCHS principal Scott Smith, and Asst. AD Jason Holcombe, both new from Gwinnett County, have the respect and courage to form the mixed search committee (administration/parents/citizens) for a new coach. If they don't, that will be a story in itself. Let's hope they do.
Rick Sanders understands what point in time we are at 31 years later and with a 27% win average. I understand where we are right now too. A lot of others, also. But, I believe there are a lot of others out there, who seem like they never played sports very much when they were in middle and high school, and that's mostly ok. A lot of you who fit this bill, appear to not be able to understand the many aspects a child gains from physically challenging themselves in any sport, especially football. There's a lot of self confidence to be gained, character built, and maturity. There's so much, it's huge the amount of goodness that comes out of team bonding. Football is especially unique.
So it's the parents and citizens in general who don't seem to be able to identify and recognize the emphasis the sport of football can have on a young man, who stand a good chance of passing that (gene) on to their children. And the cycle perpetuates. I know several close friends who broke that chain and actually encourage their children to play sports, and their kids benefits from it a lot.
So, in all this talk about "dadblamed football", that maybe that dadblamed mom and dad who let their child play football doesn't give a dog squeeze about academics, or who teaches their kid, or math class, or band or anything other than football, the reality is, quite the opposite. And the main point is it's ALL ABOUT FOOTBALL! That's it. It's not about anything else. Not Math, English, Band, Chorus, FFA, baseball, basketball, track, soccer or other... Just Football.
What I am asking for is, let's wrap our brain around it and keep it simple. And for those of you out there who can't grasp this singular issue, and the fact that you just might not be able to identify or relate, please don't lose sight, it's probably not about you or your kid. We have a real problem and the football parents have as much a right, and maybe more than all the others right now, to take a stand and get some darn respect.
Please allow our football players to finally thrive. It's about them, no one else. Let's reduce the number of graduates who go out there into that big crazy world thinking they are a loser, because of his experience as a JC Football player. It's sad to say, but I know some of them.
I intend to hurt no ones feelings with my post. With a son graduating soon from UGA/AFROTC as a pilot, one at the Air Force Academy and another at local college, I care about teacher quality and academics. My children are my proof. And football had a big positive influence in their lives.
GO PANTHERS!!
Entitlement thinking:
"So, in all this talk about "dadblamed football", that maybe that dadblamed mom and dad who let their child play football doesn't give a dog squeeze about academics, or who teaches their kid, or math class, or band or anything other than football, the reality is, quite the opposite. And the main point is it's ALL ABOUT FOOTBALL! That's it. It's not about anything else. Not Math, English, Band, Chorus, FFA, baseball, basketball, track, soccer or other... Just Football. "
Doesn't matter if its Social Security Benefits, Medicare, Unemployment benefits, Medicaid, Food stamps, raise for government worker, more tax dollars to pay the best damn football coach in georgia; be damned to the others it only matters about ME!
Sad way to raise kids in my opinion.
I'm talking about. I won't vote for any improvements unless these people are out of the county!
A student who learns an instrument can play it their entire life.
Most football players never play another down after high school.
Football is a game that extols agression and violence. It is mainly a program to indoctrinate young men to be compliant corporate automatons. Mainly useful to the military industrial complex that is exploiting our society.
Keysfisherman has the right idea.
Come on people, we spend a 100 years on this planet (if we're lucky). Let's try to make this a better place for everyone.
Peace in Jackson County and goodwill towards men, women, and children (regardless of their religion, national origin, or sexual preferences).
that is so right