Vavra leaving alma mater Sprayberry for Etowah job

Brett Vavra, who led alma mater Sprayberry to its best football record in history this season, has resigned to become head coach at Etowah.

Vavra told his team Wednesday morning and is expected to start his new job Jan. 7. His hire still needs Cherokee County board approval, which is expected next month.

“It was a family decision,” Vavra said. “I live in the Etowah district, and my daughter is a freshman at Etowah and plays volleyball, so this gets me closer to home. It was a tough decision but one that I needed to make for the bigger picture long term.”

Vavra was Etowah’s defensive coordinator and track-and-field coach from 2012 to 2016.

Vavra came to Sprayberry in 2017. This season’s team finished 11-2, won the school’s first region title since 2018 and reached the quarterfinals, in Class 5A, for the first time since 1982.

“Having the best record in the history of the school was an incredible accomplishment, and getting to state quarterfinals for the third time in history was an incredible accomplishment,” Vavra said. “All the awards and accolades are very much appreciated and something I’m proud of. We had a great group of coaches, and the kids did everything we asked of them. I know I’m leaving Sprayberry in a really good place.”

Etowah hasn’t had a winning season since 2015 and was 2-8 last season under Matt Kemper.

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