Former South Atlanta coach Woolridge takes Pebblebrook job

Michael Woolridge, who led South Atlanta to two region titles and a 22-3 record in two seasons, was announced Thursday as Pebblebrook’s head coach.

South Atlanta, a Class 2A city school, had won its first region title in history the season before Woolridge was hired, but he took the program to the next step, which was quarterfinal finishes in 2021 and 2022 with two-time 2,000-yard rusher Keyjuan Brown, who signed with Louisville.

Woolridge previously had worked at his alma mater, Hardaway in Columbus, where he took the program to three consecutive state playoff appearances after a 10-year drought. Hardaway had won only seven games in the five seasons prior to Woolridge getting the job and was 29-23 in his five seasons.

Pebblebrook is a Class 7A school in southern Cobb County that has made the playoffs six of the past seven seasons but advanced only once. Woolridge will inherit a high-profile national recruit, Dwight Phillips Jr., a running back committed to Georgia.

Woolridge will be replacing Leroy Hood, who took the head coaching job at Salem in Rockdale County.

“Pebblebrook is an amazing place with a great administration, community and student-athletes,” Woolridge said. “The opportunity to cultivate what Coach Hood built was irresistible. Lastly, I’m appreciative to South Atlanta for what we accomplished there.”

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