Trinity’s Lane headlines seven new head coaches in GIAA
Number of hires: 7
Best hire: Bruce Lane, Trinity Christian
Hardest to replace: Bruce Lane, Bethlehem Christian
Toughest job: Riverside Prep
Most interesting? Bruce Lane, a 36-year head coach in Georgia, Texas and South Carolina, is taking on his 11th program, Trinity Christian of Dublin. His career record is 244-157-1 with state titles at Augusta Christian and South Carolina's Wilson Hall. Bethlehem Christian was 1-10 the season before he began there in 2020 and finished 10-1 last season in Lane’s last. “I’m sure there are folks that envy Larry Campbell for being at Lincoln County for all those years [43 at one school] and building those traditions,” Lane said in an interview with the Athens Banner-Herald years ago. “I just feel my ministry has been a little different, and we’ve been called to be a program builder at places.”
*Bethlehem Christian promoted defensive coordinator Rod Robinson to replace Bruce Lane, who became head coach at Trinity Christian. Robinson also has been the school’s dean of students since 2020. He’s a former assistant head coach at Clark Atlanta (2009-12) and has coached since then at high schools in North Carolina and South Carolina.
*Heritage of Newnan hired Clark Atlanta interim head coach Richard Moncrief to replace Jake Copeland, who remained as athletic director. Moncrief is a former Clemson quarterback who has coached at Alabama State and UAB, three Alabama high schools and Pace Academy. Heritage is coming off a 2-8 finish.
*Riverside Prep of Gainesville hired DeSoto (Arcadia, Fla.) coach Jeff Lee to replace Nicholas Garrett, who became head coach at Andrew College in Cuthbert. Lee was a Georgia coach for 25 seasons at seven schools, most notably Dawson County from 2003 to 2014. He’s since been head coach at North Bay Haven, Holmes and DeSoto in Florida. Riverside shut down football during the 2020 COVID-19 season and has gone 1-25 trying to rebuild.
*Southland Academy of Americus hired Stratford Academy coach Chance Jones to replace Rod Murray, who became athletic director at Deerfield-Windsor. Jones was Stratford’s coach for two years, its offensive coordinator the previous two years and head coach at Tattnall Square Academy from 2016 to 2019. Southland was 51-60 in 11 seasons under Murray and 5-7 last year.
*St. Andrew's Academy of Savannah hired Calvary Day wide receivers coach Wes Worthington to replace Kevin Prisant, who became Southland Academy’s defensive coordinator. Worthington also assisted at Benedictine and was co-defensive coordinator during 2014 and 2016 GHSA championship teams. St. Andrew’s was 5-6 last season.
*Stratford Academy of Macon hired Howard coach Paul Carroll to replace Chance Jones, who became head coach at Southland Academy. Carroll’s Howard teams were 28-30 in his six seasons. Carroll had worked on staffs at Warner Robins, Tift County, Griffin and Thomas County Central. Stratford was 14-10 in Jones’ two seasons, 5-6 in 2023.
*Trinity Christian of Dublin hired Bethlehem Christian coach Bruce Lane to replace Jed Marsh, who became head coach at Citizens Christian in Douglas. Lane is a 36-year head coach with 244 victories in three states. He has won state titles at Augusta Christian (2005) and South Carolina’s Wilson Hall (2013). Trinity Christian was 6-25 in three seasons under Marsh and 2-9 in 2023.
