Jackson County head football coach Benji Harrison is expected to be recommended for the job of head coach at Habersham Central High School on Monday. Sources tell Now Habersham Harrison is the final candidate for the job. He was selected from among at least ten candidates who were interviewed for the position.
Harrison has been head coach at Jackson County Comprehensive High School since 2012. According to the news website OnlineAthens, he resigned his position there on Tuesday. Jackson County Athletic Director Adam Lindsey issued this statement:
“He took a program that had been struggling for quite some time and gave it a lot of energy and confidence. With him taking us to the playoffs for the first two years, it was huge for our football team and community. That has been a spark for our other programs. … It’s a devastating loss, but our goal is to get out there and find the next guy who can do that too.”
Harrison compiled a 12-20 record over three seasons with the Panthers. He led Jackson County to back-to-back playoff appearances in 2012-2013, the first consecutive playoff bids for the Panthers since 1986-1987. Jackson County finished 6-5 in Harrison’s first season as head coach, its first winning record since going 8-2 under Don Golden in 1992.
Harrison was offensive coordinator at Flowery Branch High School in Hall County before moving to Jackson. He also coached at Elbert and Franklin County High Schools. Coach Harrison was a standout quarterback at Stephens County High and lettered all four years at Presbyterian College.
Harrison and his wife, Thomasyne, have two young daughters.
Habersham County school board member Robert Barron says he’s pleased with Harrison’s selection. “I think, from all the paperwork and everything else that I’ve seen, he comes highly qualified. I can’t think of a better person to lead our program in the direction we need it to go.”
Habersham County has been searching for a new head football coach since Michael Pollock resigned last November.
Neither HCHS Athletic Director Geep Cunningham nor Habersham County School Superintendent Matthew Cooper will officially confirm Harrison’s selection. Cooper says, “The search committe is continuing to make progress and they’ve narrowed the field considerably.” He says nothing is official until the board votes.
That may happen Monday when the school board meets in a special called session. The agenda includes a personnel recommendation and executive session.
The meeting will be held at 4:30pm in the school board meeting room at the school administrative office on 132 West Stanford Mill Road in Clarkesville.
