After three successful seasons at Southeast Bulloch, head coach Barrett Davis has announced he is leaving SEB to take over as the head coach at Evans High School in Columbia County.
The Harlem, GA native admits one of the reasons for taking the job was to be closer to his family as well as other private reasons.
“We love the Statesboro area and have a lot of great things here, but Augusta has always been home,” said Davis. “It’s not something I was necessarily looking to do, but after some prayer and things lining up, I decided it was the best thing for our family. Parents and grandparents getting older you just want to be around them as much as you can.”
Southeast Bulloch has a 21-11 record in Davis’ three seasons. The Yellow Jackets advanced to three-straight state playoff appearances under Davis including winning the region title last year.
“There were already some good things in place before I got here,” said Davis. “I think as a staff we have been able to build on that. I think the community and school have helped us to leaving the program in a great spot right now.”
“I’ve made some great friendships and will miss the players that have been in the program the past three years,” said Davis. “I feel like we have helped a few players fulfill their dreams of a college scholarship and there are a few coming back who will have that opportunity as well. Great players make great coaches and we have definitely had some talented kids the past few years.”
Davis is thankful for being given the opportunity for his first head coaching job and will always remember Southeast Bulloch as the start of his head coaching career.
“”It has certainly been eye opening,” said Davis. “I’ve had a lot of great mentors along the way including former Southeast Bulloch coaches Fred Shaver and Mike Sparks. There’s also a lot of people at the school who helped me with paperwork and other challenges that come with the job. A good coach is also only as good as the staff behind him, and we have had a great staff as well.”
Davis takes over a Knight program that won Region 3-AAAAAA last year and went 9-3 last season including beating Statesboro 42-21 in the state playoffs. Head Coach Lemuel Lackey left Evans to take a head coaching job at Fox Creek High School in South Carolina.
Southeast Bulloch principal Stephen Hoyle is disappointed to see Davis leave, but is thankful for what he has done the past three seasons.
“Coach Davis did a great job of building on what coach Steve Pennington had helped put in place,” said Hoyle. “We will certainly miss him and his family and wish him good luck in his future."
Hoyle said there is no timetable in place to find Davis’ successor. He is planning on meeting with his administrative team at Southeast Bulloch and then meeting with the Bulloch BOE to determine his next steps.
