The 1987 Hawkinsville High School graduate says he made the decision “a few weeks ago.”
FORT VALLEY, Ga. (41NBC/WMGT) – Peach County High School’s Chad Campbell says he is stepping down after 16 seasons as the Trojans’ head football coach.
Atlanta Journal Constitution reporter Todd Holcolmb was the first to report this on Wednesday.
Campbell, a 1987 Hawkinsville High School graduate, told 41NBC’s Tucker Sargent that he made the decision several weeks ago. He said he came home Thursday and told his wife he was going to finish the season, but felt it was time for the players to hear someone else’s voice.
The 2022 Campbell Trojans finished 8-4 after falling in the second round of the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) AAA playoffs.
The 53-year-old, who finished his time as the Trojans’ head coach with a 168-38 record, served as an assistant coach at Peach County High School from 1993-2006. He also served as the school’s head baseball coach, track coach and director of athletics.
He was promoted to head football coach in 2007 and won the GHSA AAA title after an undefeated season in 2009. His teams have won 10 regional titles and three runner-up finishes in 2011, 2017 and 2018.
The 2017 state championship game ended in controversy. “It definitely doesn’t feel good, that’s for sure,” Campbell said the day after receiving the runner-up trophy. “I just feel bad for our kids, the way they fought back and got back in the game, had a chance to win.”
Campbell’s teams made the playoffs in all 16 seasons.
On Wednesday, he said he was not yet sure when he would leave the school.
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