Georgia high school football coaching changes: Winder-Barrow, Lanier County open

Lanier County's head coaching position is open. David Dean and the school have parted ways. 

The coaching change follows a 3-18 record in two seasons under Dean. The Bulldogs were eliminated from the playoffs with a 55-33 loss at Schley County on Friday night. 

Dean was hired away from his college head coaching position at West Georgia in 2024. Dean had a 127-47 record as a Division II head coach after winning two national titles at Valdosta State. 

Winder-Barrow's head coaching position is open after Robert Paxia announced he is stepping down. 

Paxia made the decision public on social media Tuesday. 

"After a great deal of of reflection, I believe this is the right time for a change — for myself and for the program," Paxia said in his announcement. "This decision was not easy, but I feel it is the best step for my personal and professional growth."

Winder-Barrow was 13-18 under Paxia in three seasons. The Bulldogs went 4-7 this season, suffering a 78-30 first-round elimination loss at Brunswick on Friday. 

Winder-Barrow hired Paxia away from his head coaching job at Flagler Palm Coast in Florida. Paxia coached there for two seasons.

Camden County didn't wait long to announce its new head coach. 

Jon Lindsey will take over at Camden County, the school announced in a statement Friday. The decision followed the school's Wednesday announcement that it had released former coach Travis Roland. 

Lindsey's last head coaching job was at Appling County in 2017. He has led four schools to the playoffs, including a state semifinal trip with Irwin County in 2013. 

Lindsey also won a region title at Cook in 2014.

Lindsey has plenty of history with Camden County football. He formerly served as Camden County's defensive coordinator in the late 2010s and in 2023, according to the school release.

Roy Groshek has stepped down from his position as Discovery's head football coach, he announced on social media Thursday. 

Groshek spent three years at Discovery, a struggling program that is 10 seasons old. The Titans went 1-28 under Groshek. 

"To my players, I told you I wake up each day and choose you, and that i would do it until im not allowed to anymore," Groshek said in part of his announcement on X. "Now that the day has come, all I ask is that you continue to choose yourselves and continue what you have started."

The coaching change follows an 0-9 finish to 2025. Groshek was hired away from Central Gwinnett, where he served as an offensive line coach.

South Paulding coach Maurice Allen announced he stepped down on Wednesday. 

The decision follows three years with the program where the Spartans went 10-21. South Paulding finished the 2025 season with a 4-6 record and missed the playoffs.

“I have decided change is what my family and the program need,” Allen said in an announcement on social media. “I officially stepped down from my role as Head Coach but will continue teaching through the end of the year. My focus now is on finishing strong with the Class of 2026 and helping every player who wants to play at the next level find their opportunity.”

Allen was hired into his first head coaching job after serving as Pebblebrook’s offensive coordinator.

Turner County High School has reinstated Demario Barber. The second-year head coach will return to his alma mater for a third season following his reinstatement. 

The Titans went 3-16 in Barber's first two seasons. He was Irwin County's defensive backs coach before taking over at Turner County.

Camden County announced it has parted ways with head football coach Travis Roland on Wednesday. Roland confirmed the school's decision with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 

Roland was with Camden County for two years. The Bears went 13-8 under him and made the first round of the playoffs last season. 

MORE DETAILS: Camden County football parts ways with coach Travis Roland

Camden County missed the playoffs this season after a fifth-place finish in the brutal Region 1-6A. 

Will Whilden is no longer Hardaway's head football coach, he confirmed to the AJC. 

Whilden resigned from his position, according to the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. The resignation follows a 1-9 finish to the 2025 season.

Whilden was hired before the 2025 season after former head coach Ryan McKenzie left to coach at Pelham. Whilden was a Hardaway assistant under McKenzie when he was hired for his first head coaching job.

Kevin Saunders, the football coach who ended Apalachee’s 29-game losing streak in his first season this year, has resigned, and the Barrow County school has promoted defensive coordinator Chuck Kenyon as his replacement.

Chad Garrison resigned from his position as St. Pius X's head football coach this week. 

Garrison led St. Pius X for five years. He was the Golden Lions' offensive line coach for 20 years before that. 

St. Pius X went 6-4 last season. They were 31-25 all-time under Garrison. 

Garrison's first season leading the Golden Lions was his best, as they went 9-3 and won his only region championship. He was named Region 5-5A Coach of the Year that season. 

St. Pius X football coach Chad Garrison resigns from ‘labor of love’

“I never had to work a day in my 26 years here,” Garrison said. “It has always been truly a labor of love, and I have enjoyed every minute.”