Two new head football coaches are coming to high schools in the Columbus area
Two new head football coaches for Columbus area high schools are being introduced this month.
Hardaway’s football players met their new head football coach, Ryan McKenzie, on Friday, and McKenzie’s successor at Chattahoochee County, Josh Jacobson, is scheduled to be introduced to the ChattCo board March 14.
McKenzie succeeds Corey Thompson. Thompson led Class AAAA Hardaway to a 2-8 record in 2022 after a 6-5 record, including a first-round state playoff loss, during his first season at Hardaway in 2021. Thompson previously was head football and basketball coach at Aaron Cohn Middle School.
Muscogee County School District athletics director Jeff Battles confirmed Monday that Hardaway has hired McKenzie, but he said MCSD policy gives the principals the authority to hire and fire coaches.
“Ryan McKenzie was chosen because his vision matches the mission and vision of the school and school district,” Hardaway principal Maudrice McNeill told the L-E in an email. “At this point, Coach Thompson has not decided on his next steps. All avenues and doors are open, including staying at Hardaway or elsewhere. We decided to agree to go a different route. Coach Thompson is an incredible human being and did a phenomenal job leading our football program over the past two years.”
The L-E didn’t reach McKenzie for comment before publication.
During his lone season as a head football coach in Georgia, McKenzie led Class A ChattCo to a 5-6 record, including a first-round state playoff loss in 2022.
Jacobson doesn’t have any head football coaching experience in Georgia. He was the offensive coordinator last season at Suwannee High School in Live Oak, Florida, where the team went 10-3, after going 3-7 in 2021, and advanced to the quarterfinals in the Class 2S state playoffs.
In 19 seasons as an assistant coach, with more than 140 victories, he has helped win nine region titles and notched 15 state playoff appearances.
“I am extremely excited to be the HC of ChattCo,” Jacobson wrote in an email Monday to the L-E, “and we operate off of 6 words. DO YOUR JOB, and BE THE MODEL. We feel if our players strive daily to fulfill the meaning behind those six words their lives will be enhanced forever.”
Jacobson’s other high school coaching experience has been as an assistant at: Bacon County and Cook County in Georgia; Baker County and Milton in Florida; and Franklin in Michigan.
“We are so proud to announce Mr. Joshua Jacobson as our new head football coach for CCHS,” ChattCo superintendent Kristie Brooks told the L-E in an email Monday. “… He has been working closely with our players and community and has demonstrated alignment with our values and is an excellent fit for our growing program that is grounded in discipline and high expectations.
“Our Panther family has truly embraced him and the vision that he has to support our student-athletes as they develop into productive, competitive young men. We are looking forward to a successful season,” Brooks added.
This story was originally published March 6, 2023 at 11:08 AM.
