OAKWOOD, Ga. — After five seasons, William Harrell said in a tweet on Monday that he is stepping down as Johnson’s football coach, effective at the end of the current school year.
It was a tough assignment for Harrell right from the start, taking over the program before the start of the COVID season of 2020. In his time, the Knights were just 4-45, the high-water mark being a 4-6 campaign in 2023.
Family concerns made the timing right, Harrell said. He cited being closer to his family in Augusta was the driving factor.
“Well, you know it's time and I have some situations, as far as my mom, trying to make sure that she's situated, and she's having some things going on,” he said. “I also didn’t want to have something happen and I gotta leave in June or the middle of July or something like that and put the team in a complete bind. We got a full staff. We're gonna be fine. This is the right time to do this.”
Harrell also said he has nothing lined up for the next school year but probably would not seek out a head coaching job.
“I’m fine just being an assistant or whatever somebody needs,” he said. “I may need that extra time dealing with things. But I definitely plan to try and find somewhere to coach for next year.
“I’ve been an OC and a DC before so I’m comfortable with either side of the ball. But we’ll just have to see what’s out there.”
Harrell said the relationships he made will be hard to leave behind.
“I’ve enjoyed my time here and made some great friends and had great relationships with the kids and players in all the sports,” he said. “I’ll miss the kids for sure.”
