By Adam MacDonald
The Valdosta Daily Times
With a 6-2 vote, the Valdosta Board of Education has approved the hiring of Rance Gillespie as the new Valdosta High football coach.
The Board met on Wednesday at 5 p.m. and spent an hour in executive session with Gillespie before coming to the conclusion that he would be the next Wildcats coach.
Gillespie was introduced to the crowd in attendance and made his first statement as the Wildcats coach.
“Since I was old enough to remember, Valdosta has always been the pinnacle of high school football,” Gillespie said. “I’ve worked very hard my whole career to get to the top and I can’t wait to start working at Valdosta High School as the leader of this program. I thank you for the opportunity. And I can say this, I can say this: I promise what you will get from me is a guy that will go to work each and every day to make this the premier program, not only in this state, but in this country, just like it used to be.”
Gillespie, 40, spent the last three seasons as the offensive coordinator at Georgia Southern under Chris Hatcher. At the end of the 2009 season, GSU did not renew the contracts of Hatcher and his staff.
Before following Hatcher to GSU, Gillespie spent six seasons as the head coach of Class AAA Peach County where he went 65-16 and won the AAA state championship in 2005 and 2006. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution named Gillespie the Coach of the Year both seasons. Gillespie also worked at Peach County as offensive coordinator from 1995-99.
Prior to becoming Peach County’s head coach, Gillespie was the head coach of Banks County in 1999 and 2000 where he went 5-15.
Gillespie is familiar with South Georgia football. He served as Coffee’s running backs coach from 1994-95, and he was Thomasville’s receivers coach from 1992-94.
Gillispie played football at the University of Georgia and graduated from UGA in 1992.
For more, see Thursday's edition of The Valdosta Daily Times.
Local News
<img src="http://valdosta.sgaonline.com/headlines/breaking.gif" /> Rance Gillespie named Valdosta High football coach
- Local News
-
-
Lake Park in Limbo
LAKE PARK — Lake Park citizens will have to wait several months before being able to attend another City Council meeting following Tuesday’s resignation of two council members.
Deb Cox, Lowndes County elections supervisor, said Georgia state law dictates that another special election cannot be held until July 31. -
Colo. court says fugitive sibling has plea deal
WALSENBURG, Colo. — One of the three Dougherty siblings accused in a multi-state crime spree, including a Valdosta bank robbery, has reached a plea deal with prosecutors, a spokesman for the Colorado court system said Wednesday.
-
Airport Authority tours True Flight Aerospace Plant
VALDOSTA — The Valdosta-Lowndes County Airport Authority toured the True Flight Aerospace Plant after their meeting Wednesday morning. True Flight President and CEO, Kevin Lancaster, lead the tour through the facility which is located in the largest hanger at the Valdosta Regional Airport. -
Lake Park: Council members resign
Immediately following the Citizens to be Heard portion of the regular Lake Park council meeting Tuesday night, council members Eric Schindler and Paul Mulkey tendered their resignations.
-
Valwood goes global
Valwood School has hosted several international guests for the past several weeks.
-
City cuts ribbon on new home
With a snip of some over-sized wooden scissors, the City of Valdosta took another step in eliminating substandard housing.
-
Berrien clinic director loses job
Speaking to The Valdosta Daily Times about the possible discontinuation of the Berrien Elementary School MED Clinic led to the program’s executive director losing her job Monday morning.
-
From the CIA to man about town
Meet Jack Pruden, former member of the Central Intelligence Agency.
-
Berrien school medical facility faces an uncertain future
A state-of-the-art medical facility that was introduced in Berrien County public schools in 2010 might be ending soon.
-
New TV listings section debuts in print edition
In Sunday editions of The Valdosta Daily Times, keep an eye out for the updated TV listings section.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Lake Park in Limbo
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
