RINGGOLD, Ga. – Heritage High School didn’t have to look far to find the program’s next head football coach.
Jeremy New was named Monday to the position after being approved by the Catoosa County Board of Education. He replaces E.K. Slaughter, who resigned earlier this month after taking the Generals to the playoffs in nine of his 11 seasons and recording 71 wins.
“We are absolutely thrilled to announce Coach New as the leader of our football program,” stated Heritage Principal Matt Phillips in a release. “Coach New is a Heritage General and his vision for our program perfectly aligns with our commitment to excellence and will continue to prioritize student success in all aspects – athletics, academics, sportsmanship, and community engagement.
“I am confident that Coach New will inspire our student-athletes to reach their full potential both on and off the field.”
New, an assistant coach at the school for each of Slaughter’s 11 seasons and for five years previous to that under Tim James, says he’s ready for the challenge.
“Heritage is an incredibly special place that has been my family’s home for the past 16 years,” he said. “I am dedicated to upholding the high standards of excellence that are synonymous with Heritage, both on and off the field.
“I extend my sincere gratitude to the administration, coaches, and the entire Heritage community for their unwavering support throughout this process. I also want to express my deepest appreciation to E.K., Arlene, Brayden, and McKenzie Slaughter for their unwavering dedication and passion for Heritage over the past 11 years. Their support has been invaluable.”
Though he’s been a career assistant coach, New does have a head coach win under his belt. He was acting head coach at Heritage on August 30 in 2019 when the Generals defeated rival Ringgold 27-14 after Slaughter had been suspended one game.
New will finalize his coaching staff in the coming weeks in preparation for spring practice.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com.