Brookwood, Veterans announce new head coaches

Brookwood promoted defensive coordinator Chad Nighbert to head football coach Tuesday, and Veterans in Houston County hired Steve DeVoursney, a former Cairo coach also known for winning a state title at Griffin in 2013.

Nighbert served as Brookwood’s interim coach from the third game into the playoffs last season as head coach Philip Jones, in his 10th season at his alma mater, took time away for health reasons.

Brookwood, a Gwinnett County school, finished 7-4 and did not renew Jones' contract.

Nighbert grew up in Germany and came to Georgia to play linebacker at Georgia Southern, where he became an All-America linebacker.

He came to Brookwood last season after serving as defensive coordinator at Colquitt County. He has worked on staffs at Effingham County, Savannah, Southeast Bulloch, Screven County and Jones County.

Brookwood plays in Region 7-6A, finished as the region’s No. 2 seed in 2024 and lost to West Forsyth in the first round of the playoffs.

DeVoursney has a 182-68 record as a head coach at Griffin (2000-13) and Cairo (2015-21).

Veterans is coming off a 1-9 finish under Josh Ingram in Class 5A.

Click here for a complete list of head coaching hires and openings.