RINGGOLD, Ga. — Ringgold High School has elevated Austin Crisp from offensive coordinator to head football coach, a move principal J.R. Jones made official barely two weeks after Robert Akins announced his retirement from coaching after 16 years with the Tigers.
"We had some great candidates who applied for the job, but at the end of the day Austin is a Tiger and we are glad to keep him here," Jones said.
"Austin is a good young up-and-coming coach, and he was highly recommended by Coach Akins. He's a good family man. He works hard in the weight room and with the kids and, like Coach Akins, he builds great relationships with kids. I just felt like he was our man."
Crisp, 30, was on Akins' staff for six seasons after beginning his high school coaching career as an assistant at LaFayette.
As a senior at Gordon Lee High School, Crisp was asked to write a paper on his career aspirations. It didn't take long to put together.
"I wrote that I wanted to be a head football coach, and today I get to begin living that dream," said Crisp, who is likely to remain the team's offensive play caller.
"I've hit the ground running today. We have a fantastic staff, and I would love to keep them around. If we started the season out tomorrow with the staff we have in place, I feel very confident we will continue to have success."
Akins is headed to Somerville, Tennessee, where he will become the head of schools at Fayette Academy. He had a 97-75 record at Ringgold, reaching the playoffs eight times, including the last two seasons.
In Crisp, Akins sees someone who puts the person ahead of the athlete.
"Austin is an awesome person and coach who has a great work ethic and is up to date and knowledgeable about football," Akins said. "He has been asked to speak at several clinics to give his expertise on the offensive part of the game.
"More importantly, he cares about his players and coaches and teaches them the character that is so valuable in our society today. RHS is lucky to have him and I believe he will do an outstanding job!"
Crisp admits he learned as much about how to treat people as he did about football under Akins.
"The biggest thing I learned under Robert — and he told me this the other day — that there are two crystal balls in your life, your faith and your family. All the other balls you juggle are rubber. You can drop those and pick them back up.
"Coach Akins believes in building good men. Ultimately, when I die, I don't care if they put I was 300-0 with 10 state championships on my tombstone. What I want is that I had a positive impact on these kids' lives. That's the biggest thing."
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com.