Chomskis lands job at Mary Persons
Evans High School continues its search for new head football coach
One mystery has been solved at Evans High School, but the burning question has yet to be answered.
Former Knights' head football coach Lee Chomskis has been hired by Mary Persons High School. He will begin work this fall as an assistant coach in football and baseball. Chomskis also will teach history at the Forsyth, Ga., school.
"It's a great place to be," Chomskis said. "My family and I are excited about it. To be honest, I'm blessed to be a part of Mary Persons."
Although Chomskis has sealed his future plans, the search continues for a new head football coach at Evans.
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"The pool (of applicants) is pretty good," Evans principal Don Brigdon said earlier this month. "It's a very difficult decision."
Lee Chomskis accepted an assistant football and baseball coaching position with Mary Persons High School.
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Brigdon heads a six-person committee that will select a new head coach. Interviews have been conducted, but Brigdon was out of town last week and had not announced the decision.
For Chomskis, who resigned in January as coach from Evans, the step to Mary Persons provides a perfect place to start over.
The Bulldogs compete in Class AAA, and qualify for the state playoffs on a regular basis. Mary Persons won a state title in 1980, and has captured nearly a dozen region championships. Former Mary Persons coach Dan Pitts held the state record for wins until being passed by Lincoln County's Larry Campbell last season.
"They've got an extremely big-time tradition in football," Chomskis said. "The commitment there from the community is great, and the expectations are high for football and all athletics. The opportunity to win is not just because of the players; it's from the community and the school's administration. The atmosphere there is conducive to success."
During his two campaigns as head coach at Evans, success wasn't part of the picture for Chomskis. The Knights won only three games the past two seasons.
Brigdon estimated that 15 or 16 people were interviewed for the Evans coaching slot. Among the applicants are two internal candidates, Dave Machovec and Russell Lee.
The football job at Evans was expected to be filled by mid-March, and considering spring football practice is fast approaching, the official announcement should come this week.
"We know what kind of coach we want," Brigdon said. "The best way to say it is we're looking for somebody who would fit this community and fit this school. You want somebody you can depend on and do what's necessary to build back the program."
Chomskis maintains that he left the Evans program on solid ground, not in shambles. Still, he says he isn't bitter about being forced to resign, and doesn't intend on burning any bridges.
"I've made so many wonderful friends here at Evans and in the community," Chomskis said. "I'm always going to take an interest in what Evans is doing. I wish the school nothing but the best. The kids deserve a good man put in the position as football coach."