DALTON, Ga. -- Matt Land will be introduced as the next head football coach at Dalton High School this morning following approval by the Dalton Boad of Education, ending a lengthy search following Adam Winegarden's sudden resignation earlier this year.
Land, who played and coached under Bill Chappell, has been a lay coach at Dalton for 17 years after graduating from Auburn University with a degree in aerospace engineering. His ability to teach mathematics at the school was a factor in his hiring, according to Dalton principal Debbie Freeman and athletic director Ronnie McClurg, who headed the search committee that had narrowed the finalists to Land and another former Catamount, Preston Poag.
"One of the big differences is that Matt will teach math, while Preston would have been teaching in Business Education," McClurg said. "We had a greater need in math, though we know that Preston would have been a great addition to the teaching staff as well. Matt is a highly respected young man and has character second to none. He knows the community and the staff and what is expected of the program. Matt is a great leader, and I have faith he will take our program to even greater heights."
McClurg also noted that choosing a coach with Dalton ties was something the committee wanted as the process took shape. Winegarden, who replaced McClurg as head coach in 2008, was not a Dalton graduate and offended many longtime program boosters when he applied for the head coaching position at Perry High School following the 2009 season.
"It was good to stay in-house," McClurg said. "It was a great process we went through, though it was a hard one. it's a huge relief to get this done and to get the right person. We'd rather take time and get the right person than jump into it."
Land believes his transition from private business to full-time teacher will be smooth.
"I am excited to be a part of the Dalton Public Schools' team -- on the football coaching staff, the football team, the school's team as well as the district's," Land said. "I believe in the DPS tradition of excellence both on the field and off the field and am fully committed to uphold that tradition in all areas of my involvement."
Under Land, the Catamounts will attempt to continue a streak of winning seasons that reached 50 this season, a Georgia state record and what is believed to be the longest current streak in the country.