Sports

Cherokee High Coach Resigns

Following the the Warriors' 1-9 finish, head football coach Brian Dameron steps down.

After 11 seasons, head football coach Brian Dameron has resigned.

Superintendent Frank Petruzielo made the announcement this morning—barely one week after the varsity football team ended its 2011 campaign with its of the season against .

In an emailed statement, Petruzielo said Cherokee "enjoyed some of its most successful seasons" under Dameron.

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The Warrriors reached the state playoffs six times, won at least nine games a season on three occasions and earned one region championship, he said.

"In 2002, Coach Dameron actually became the first coach in the county to win a state playoff game, and had back-to-back teams in 2006 and 2007 who earned trips to the state quarterfinals," Petruzielo said. "After both the 2003 and 2009 campaigns, Coach Dameron was selected to serve as a coach in Georgia’s High School All-Star game."

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Emails to Dameron, Cherokee High athletic director Jack Wallner and principal Debra Murdock were not returned this morning.

Instead, district spokeswoman Barbara Jacoby sent a statement from Petruzielo and Murdock to all metro Atlanta media outlets.

According to the Cherokee Tribune, Dameron's departure was a mutual decision between him and the school's administration.

“Brian’s contributions to the Cherokee HS Warrior football program are numerous," Murdock said in the statement. "We owe much of the past and future success of our football program to Coach Dameron and he will be missed."

It's not clear if an interim head coach has been named.

MORE ON COACH DAMERON

  • From the Cherokee Warriors Touchdown Club website: "Brian has built a great tradition of achievement with the football program. His record is 49-42 as the head coach at Cherokee High with ’03 and ’04 quarterfinalists as well as two sweet sixteen appearances in ’02 and ’07. Coach has guided the Warriors to six playoff appearances in 8 years. He has coached in Cherokee County schools for 18 years. Coach Dameron started his coaching career at Sequoyah in 1991 and also spent 4 years at Woodstock High before arriving at CHS. Coach Dameron also coached at West Ga. College in 1989 and at Lee’s McRae College in 1990. Coach Dameron graduated from nearby Forsyth County High School (Central Forsyth) where he lettered in football and wrestling. Coach played college football at Jacksonville State University in Alabama and finished his eligibility at Georgia Southwestern College in Americus playing for Jimmy Hightower. Coach Dameron is most proud of his family: wife of 19 years, Andrea, and his two children, daughter Brinn and son Bishop."


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