FLOWERY BRANCH — Cherokee Bluff football may not even officially exist yet, but the Bears are already looking at a veteran head coach.
Current Dacula and former Lumpkin County coach Tommy Jones will be recommended for the position at Cherokee Bluff at the Hall County Board of Education on Monday night.
The school, which will begin its inaugural year in 2018, will compete in Region 7-AAA, alongside Dawson County, East Hall, Fannin County, Greater Atlanta Christian, Lumpkin County and North Hall.
Jones led Lumpkin from 2006-2012, posting a 27-43 record, including a 25-25 mark from 2007-2011. He moved to Dacula in 2013, where he is 37-22, including three region titles and four state playoff berths, reaching the quarterfinals in 2013 and the second round in 2014, 2016-17.
Jones said it was a tough decision to leave the successful Falcons program.
"The decision to accept the Cherokee Bluff job is tremendously bittersweet. Leaving Dacula is one of the hardest professional decisions that I’ve ever made," he said. "Over the last five years, I’ve had an incredible opportunity to work alongside some of the best coaches in the world and coach some remarkable young men. Although we were able to accomplish some incredible things on the field during the last five years, my hope is that the life lessons our players learned through the process will be much more significant."
The idea of leaving a perennial playoff stalwart like Dacula to open a new school would not attract most coaches. Not so for Jones.
"I really enjoy the building process and have always had a desire to open a new school," he said. "I realize that it will be both exhausting and rewarding at the same time. Both Wes McGee (principal) and Kenny Hill (athletic director) are unbelievably energetic about the situation. I am extremely excited about the challenge and opportunity ahead."
