Roger GentryRoger Gentry has resigned as head football coach at Sonoraville High School after three seasons, including the program's first appearance in the Georgia playoffs this past season.
Gentry, who had a 9-22 record, is taking the offensive coordinator's position at Stephens County, where former Cartersville coach Frank Barden is the new head coach.
"This was one of those perfect-storm kind of things for Coach Gentry," Sonoraville athletic director Brent Mashburn said. "He has a daughter who plays basketball at Truett-McConnell [in Cleveland, Ga., near Stephens County], and he had worked before under Coach Barden, so it's really a good fit for him and his family."
Mashburn said he hopes to have a new coach in place in time for spring practice within a couple of weeks, but he's not going to rush the process.
"You don't want to get in too big of a hurry and miss out on the right person," he said. "We have the job posted and hope to begin interviews later this week."
One potential replacement is already on staff in defensive coordinator Jim Kremer, a former Adairsville head coach who was instrumental in helping build Calhoun's defenses early in Hal Lamb's tenure.
Hodge steps down
Ringgold High School is looking for a head coach to lead its ultra-successful softball program after Rachel Hodge resigned this past week for family reasons.
"Rachel and her husband are expecting another child, and she is due right around Columbus [state tournament] time, so this is completely understandable," Ringgold athletic director Robert Akins said. "Family obligations will certainly change your priorities and Rachel already has twins, so considering the time it takes to coach a program like ours, it's tough. We're saddened by it but we're happy for her, and now the tough part comes in finding someone who can lead these girls as well as she has."
Hodge had a 127-59 record in five seasons, including 64 wins the past two seasons and taking her last four teams to the Elite 8 in Columbus. The 2012 Lady Tigers were the state's Class AAA runners-up.
LFO hires two
Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe softball coach Lisa Gray announced a pair of impressive assistant coach hirings. Nicole Huddleston, a former all-star player for the Lady Warriors, and former Red Bank standout Kim Patterson-Culbreth will join the LFO staff next season in hopes of helping turn around the program.
"I was not happy with last season," said Gray, whose team missed the playoffs for the first time in program history and finished 12-18. "We have the young talent and now we just have to develop it, which is why we made these moves. I'm really looking forward to working with Nicole and Kim. They're two great coaches with outstanding knowledge for the game."
Huddleston, who was a two-time all-conference player for Armstrong Atlantic State University, also coached for three seasons as an assistant at Lee University. Patterson-Culbreth, who is an owner/instructor at Dream Fastpitch Academy, will work with the LFO pitching staff.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296.