Hill to leave Lakeside to join East Jackson
New school has had successes
Randy Hill's Lakeside High years soon will end.
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The Panthers coach will leave after the end of the school year for East Jackson High School in Commerce, Ga.
Hill handed in his resignation to interim athletic director Tim Reeve on March 21.
"Coaches always look out for something to further their career," Reeve said. "Every year coaches just look, they look and say, 'All right, what else is available out there? Is this something that interests me?' Obviously, this was something he was interested in."
Reeve said Hill's teaching position would not be filled, but that the school will begin a search for a new wrestling coach.
Hill will join East Jackson as assistant football coach, head wrestling coach and head girls soccer coach.
Several phone messages left for Hill were not immediately returned.
East Jackson opened in July 2007 and fielded teams in each major sport its first year, winning region championships in softball and boys track.
The former Lakeside Panthers football coach and athletic director was fired from both positions in January 2007. He stayed on as an assistant to first-year football coach Jody Grooms and also headed the wrestling team.
East Jackson athletic director Johnny Tucker said Hill expressed an interest in the school's opening during a conversation with football coach Frank Caputo at a wrestling tournament earlier this year.
"He's got some experience and has been successful," Tucker said. "Us being a new school, we've got a nice blend of young coaches and experienced coaches. Any time we can get an experienced coach is a good thing."
East Jackson finished its inaugural football season with a 5-5 record, narrowly missing the state playoffs. It sent four wrestlers to the state tournament.
The girls soccer team won its first game and has one win since, Tucker said.
"We've been really excited," Tucker said. "First-year school; I think everyone takes the position you're going to struggle. Some of our sports did, obviously, but we've been real successful."