VALDOSTA, Ga. (AP) Valdosta High school has named Rick Tomberlin as the football coach at the perennial south Georgia prep powerhouse.<br>
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Tomberlin, who has been head coach at Washington County, was picked last night by the school board as the 14th head coach in the Wildcats' illustrious history.<br>
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Tomberlin brings 200 career wins, including three state championships, to a program that already has won 828 games through the 2005 season. He replaces Rick Darlington, who resigned after posting a 7-and-5 record last season.<br>
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In 14 seasons at Washington County, Tomberlin went 157-and-31. The Golden Hawks won three state championships, and were state runners-up twice. In 22 seasons as a head coach at three schools, including a three-year stint at Lowndes from 1989-91, Tomberlin is a combined 200-and-80.<br>
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Though still one of Georgias elite programs, the Wildcats have not won a state championship since 1998. That is the schools longest drought since its first title in 1940.<br>
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(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
