On May 23 the Statesboro Herald ran a story regarding former Southeast Bulloch head coach Pat Collins’ sudden resignation.
    In the story, Collins made it public he had been presented with an opportunity to better suit him and his family when it came to his eventual retirement from public education/administration. At the time Collins would not disclose any details on what exactly that opportunity was.
    At 12:16 p.m. Wednesday afternoon the opportunity Collins had mentioned was made public by his new employer: Bulloch Academy. The press release and statement made by BA head of school Leisa Houghton reads as follows:
    “We are excited to welcome Coach Collins to the BA team, and I look forward to the positive impact he will have upon BA. At Bulloch Academy, we are constantly seeking methods and personnel to improve all aspects of the educational experience for our students and families, and I am confident that Coach Collins will work well within our BA family as we continue to grow and serve the needs of our community.”  
    The obvious sidebar to this story is the future of Chandler Dennard, the now former assistant head of school and athletic director. In an email to the Herald, Houghton would not discuss the reasons for Dennard’s removal from the role nor how long the plan was in place for Collins to replace Dennard — simply stating it was a “personnel issue that could not be discussed”.
    However, Dennard made it known through text to the Herald he will stay on as the head basketball coach and the director of development at BA. Dennard helped guide the 2016-17 Gators to the GISA region 2-3A title and an undefeated region record.
    “The school is going through unprecedented growth. Like any other organization that requires some restructuring. Instead of handling four or five different areas, this will allow me to focus on my areas of expertise… which are marketing development and coaching boys basketball,” Dennard said via text.
    Collins will come on as AD when he has met the contractual obligations required of him at Southeast Bulloch, but that timetable has not been specified by Collins or Houghton. Either way, Collins said he’s ready to listen and learn about the inner workings of his new school and wanted to be clear he’s not in the business of making sweeping changes.
    “Too often in these cases someone wants to make changes for the sake of change — which is wrong in this case,” Collins said. “This is a tempered process. You want to observe and listen and assess where things are. Then you can form a very clear vision of where things will be strengthened and where things are already strong. There are many good things in place at BA and you want to maintain what’s already good.”
    Collins' official title will be athletics director and the director of facilities. Whether or not he’ll hold the GISA region representative role Dennard had is to be determined at a later date.
    Above all Collins wanted to be clear his hiring as BA’s new AD has nothing to do with any feelings towards Southeast Bulloch High School, the Bulloch County Board of Education or the kids he taught and coached in Brooklet. Collins stated his experience at SEB was “tremendous” and that he poured his heart and soul into the work he did at SEB.
    Which then leaves to one final question: will Collins continue to coach at BA? It can’t be ignored Collins has 18 years of head coaching experience at four different GHSA high school football programs. But Collins wanted to squash any kind of speculation of him squeezing his way into any coaching position, stating if someone wanted his help he’d be more than happy to be of assistance.
    “I love coaching. If there’s a need I would want to help, but as of the present that is not a part of a deal,” Collins said. “Could it materialize? If someone needed the help I would help. I would love to assist any program if they needed it. Will I coach? The answer of that is I will help if needed.”
    Collins said for anyone to imply anything else other than him simply assisting other coaches would be incorrect.
    Stay updated on this developing story and others in future editions of the Herald or at @SHprepsports on Twitter.