Atkins leaving Ringgold; Westbrook going from Warner Robins to Peach County

Ringgold football coach Robert Akins retired from public schools this week, bringing to 51 the number of GHSA openings this offseason.

Peach County hired Marquis Westbrook, Umbrah Brown became Central of Carrollton’s coach, and Clifford Fedd is going to Griffin. Those are the 10th, 11th and 12th announced hires.

Akins was Ringgold’s coach for 16 seasons, highlighted by a Class 3A semifinal appearance in 2014 and a 10-2 team in 2021 that rose from the ashes of an 0-10 finish two years earlier. Akins will be the head of schools at Fayette Academy in Tennessee.

Westbrook, the former Warner Robins coach, became the offseason’s biggest splash hire Monday, when approved by the Peach County Schools board.

Westbrook took Warner Robins to state finals each of the past four seasons, winning in 2020 and 2021. He replaces Chad Campbell, who retired from public schools and became head coach of Westfield in Perry.

Brown takes over at Central, which finished 8-4 last season under Darius Smiley. Brown was Paulding County’s coach this past season, and the 6-5 finish marked the program’s first winning record since 2015.

Fedd comes to Griffin after a 1-9 finish at struggling Sumter County and is best known for his five seasons at Dutchtown, where he won a region title in 2018. Alabama All-American Will Anderson played for Fedd at Dutchtown.

Click here for a complete list of head coaching openings.