Lakeside to wait before hiring new AD

Greenbrier High School officials recently promoted Garrett Black to fill their open athletic director position, but it might take months for Lakeside High officials to do the same.

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Columbia County school officials demoted former Lakeside athletic director Jody Grooms, also the head football coach, for running an illegal football play during a game last season. Grooms lost his athletic director job and was suspended as head football coach for the first two games of 2008.

No active search is underway to replace Grooms, however, Lakeside principal Jeff Carney said.

"My biggest thing is to make sure we have continuity for the remainder of the school year," he said. "Right now, that's what I'm focused on."

Assistant principal Tim Reeve is serving as the athletic director, and Carney said he's in no hurry to find a replacement.

"I'm trying to get through the second semester, waiting to see if it's going to be somebody on staff," he said.

Black, Greenbrier's former assistant athletic director, took on his new role during the Christmas break. He said he plans to continue coaching softball but will likely step down as the girl's basketball coach.