Craig Pritchett leaving Ridgeland to be Brevard head coach

Longtime Ridgeland High School assistant football coach Craig Pritchett has accepted the head coaching position at Brevard High School in North Carolina.

The former Ridgeland player coached under Mark Mariakis for 10 seasons and was a finalist to replace Mariakis, a job that went to Wesley Tankersley this week. Pritchett, who played at Tusculum College and is in the Pioneers' hall of fame, said the opportunity to become a head coach made the decision to leave Ridgeland a bit easier.

"It's a huge step and I'm excited and nervous at the same time," Pritchett said. "My wife and I were looking at what was going to happen at Ridgeland and had looked into what would be the perfect place for us, and the western North Carolina area is it. We did a job search, it came up and we visited a couple of times. I really believe that is where I'm supposed to go, though leaving Ridgeland is a difficult decision."

Brevard is a Class 2-A school that has struggled in recent seasons after a strong run of playoff appearances. Pritchett said his first order of business is to implement the work ethic and character Mariakis instilled at Ridgeland.

"First of all, we're going to do a lot of character development and help the students reach their goals in life," he said. "I have been truly blessed to work under Mark, and I can't thank him enough for showing me the way it's supposed to be done. I leave Ridgeland with a deep, deep pride as a former player and coach in what we've accomplished."

Mariakis, who resigned after 11 seasons, believes his protege will succeed because he has his priorities in order.

"I know it's hard for him to leave, but he will do a great job because he loves the kids," Mariakis said. "I'm very excited for Craig and his wife. He and I have built a father-son relationship, so it's tough to see him leave. They want a high-character football program, and they've hired the right guy."

Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296.

Upcoming Events