RINGGOLD, Ga. — To this point, it’s been a relatively short coaching career for Megan Crawford, but however brief it may be, there’s been enough success to last a lifetime.
Crawford resigned Thursday as the head softball coach at Heritage High School after eight years with the program, the last four in charge as she compiled a 107-17-1 record and finished with back-to-back state championships in 2023 (Class AAAA) and 2024 (Class AAA). In Crawford’s four years as an assistant coach under Tanner Moore, the program won a trio of Class AAAA championships from 2018-20.
Crawford, who recently got married, will remain a teacher at Heritage and begin to focus more on her family life.
“I have always told myself that if I ever feel it’s the right time to step away, I want to do it on my own terms,” she said. “Now is the right time to focus on my new chapter of life, getting married and just being a regular teacher. I am excited about the future of the program and wish all of our players continued success, both on and off the field. I will forever be a General, and l look forward to being the softball team’s number one fan.”
Heritage athletic director Greg Elkins said the search for the program’s next coach will begin immediately and admitted it will be a hard act to follow.
“We are very proud of the job that Coach Crawford has done in her time here at HHS,” Elkins said. “She leaves a very big hole that will be difficult to fill. Her accomplishments as an assistant coach and as the head coach are second to none. We will miss her tremendously, but we are also very happy that she’s in a position where she has peace about stepping away at this moment and spending time with her family.”
Crawford’s teams were nearly perfect the past two seasons. After reaching the state tournament in Columbus as one of the final eight contenders in its classification in 2021 and again in 2022 but falling short of the title both times, Heritage went 28-2-1 in 2023, including a 4-0 mark in Columbus culminated by a 10-2 rout of Wayne County for the Class AAAA title.
The Generals were even more dominant this past season after GHSA reclassification moved the program down, winning 34 games (while losing just two) and again going 4-0 in Columbus, where they outscored their opponents 30-1, including a 5-0 win over Cherokee Bluff for the AAA title in early November.
“It has truly been a wonderful eight years of coaching the Heritage softball program,” Crawford said. “I was able to coach a ton of girls who have made an impact on my life. The HHS administration and my colleagues have been an amazing support system for me and the softball program.
“I also want to thank my husband, my parents, and my family for their unwavering support and love. I owe a huge thank you to my assistant coaches for always having my back. Your encouragement and belief in the program meant the world to me. I do not doubt that the team will continue to thrive and uphold the legacy of this program.”
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com.