Dunwoody High fires its first-year football coach
Dunwoody High’s Michael Youngblood was fired as head football coach on Thursday.
“Mr. Youngblood is no longer the coach, that is correct,” DeKalb County Schools spokesman Dale Davis said.
When asked for the official reason, Davis said, “We decided to go in a different direction.”
Youngblood was still in a state of disbelief on Thursday evening. Dunwoody was his first head coaching job, and he led the Wildcats to a 7-5 record and appearance in the state playoffs this past season. He was informed of the news by Dunwoody principal Kevin Harris.
“When I asked (Harris) ‘What were the grounds for my removal?’ He said the things that they are going to say when the principal and football coach don’t see eye to eye … that they ‘are going to move in a different direction’ and not really give you an answer,” Youngblood said.
Youngblood speculated that his firing was related to an incident between the two men at at halftime of Dunwoody’s homecoming game against Cedar Grove on Sept. 25. Harris entered the team’s locker room and directed several players to leave the team meeting to participate in the halftime activities.
“It was a close game, and I had no idea (in advance) that some of our key players were going to be pulled out of the meeting,” Youngblood said. “I told (Harris), ‘No, please don’t do that.’ Then we went outside and talked about it. The football players ended up being in the halftime activities.”
“(But) I think he interpreted the entire situation as me trying to show him up in front the kids and other coaches.”
The following Monday, Youngblood says he was written up for “insubordination” by the principal, and Youngblood responded with a letter of rebuttal, explaining that “everything said in the report was not true.” Youngblood later apologized to Harris, hoping to ease the tension.
“However, from that moment on, I knew that things weren’t how they were supposed to be,” Youngblood said. “Every day, I had to look over my back, while also doing a good job on the football field.”
“The bottom line is that (Harris) never forgave me for that (halftime) incident.”
Youngblood, 30, was assistant head coach for Tucker High’s 2009 state championship team, and was Chattahoochee High’s defensive coordinator the previous two years.
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201 comments Add your comment
tom shoupe
February 5th, 2010
7:33 am
politics and egos are everywhere. find a good lawyer.
WhoCares
February 5th, 2010
7:48 am
Decisions regarding teachers, coaches, and players are made everyday right or wrong. However this one is very hard to understand but if you are not a part of solution to the problem you could be a part of the problem. I am sure that this was not quick decision unfortunate it is the decision that the principle at Dunwoody High School felt he had to make. Pointing the finger at Dr. Harris by a number of venters is the selfisness that we see everyday in our society, and it is certainly seen in a number of our children today. Adversity will only make you stronger if you learn from it and move on. How many players at Dunwoody High School realize that they will not be given a football scholarship, but they have to earn it with good grades, strong work ethic and a little luck. But guess what anyone can go to college if they have the grade here in georgia with the hope scholarship. Football should never be put first before academics and I am not saying this was the case at Dunwoody High School, however we need to teach our children to handle adversity head on and to move on. Good luck to Coach Youngblood and good luck to Dr. Harris because I am sure both of the gentleman are stressed by this entire situation.
former teacher
February 5th, 2010
7:48 am
Unfortunately this is common in education…. Principals on power trips. If they don’t feel you’ve kissed their butt adequately, you’re gone if you don’t have tenure. Most of them couldn’t care less about educating our children. It’s all about their ego.
Racismindunwoody
February 5th, 2010
7:51 am
No doubt the principal is black and the coach is white. Another incompetent, arrogant black on an ego trip. God save us all from these idiots. Yes we can.
phillip
February 5th, 2010
7:52 am
what is the principal doing in the locker room giving orders at halftime is he the coach?? That sends the wrong message. Do your job Harris who wants to work for you now?
M A Double T
February 5th, 2010
7:52 am
and in the end the principal most likely got a raise too….. 7-5 for the first year is not bad…. nick saban went 7-6 @ alabama and look at the tide now…. RMFT! good luck coach, go where you are wanted and quit looking over your shoulder, the view sucks when you look backwards….
Another DeKalb Official that let his ego get in the way of his job
February 5th, 2010
8:01 am
The Principal appears to have let his ego get in the way of his judgement. Seems like this happens a lot more with black Officals than with other races. DeKalb and other black-controlled counties are reaping what they’ve sown. Electing and appointing people because of their color doesn’t mean the most qualified person gets the job.
andrew
February 5th, 2010
8:03 am
he was one of the worst dunwoody coaches i dont credit him for the wildcats success at all they had a lot of talent there we didnt have one big win this year he constatnly would argue with the coaches and wasnt a team player as a wildcat its bitterseweet because i feel the wildcats needed a better coach and he wasnt it business is business and hopefully he understands that he was a terrible coach i hate to say it but glad he is gone
grown-up
February 5th, 2010
8:06 am
I am now starting to rethink why our head football and basketball coach left last year. I know for a fact that Dr. Harris had serious arguments with our former HFC, once over participating in homecoming activities. As a matter of fact football players did not participate in homecoming activities until Dr. Harris became principal at least in recent years. We lost several teachers last year because of how Dr. Harris treated his former secretary. When he decides to get rid of someone he gets personal and rumers are spread questioning this person’s morals. I will not put into print the rumers that are spreading in Dunwoody about the real reason Youngblood was fired. I didn’t agree with everything Youngblood did but I supported him as our coach. This is personal mess and Dr. Harris by his behavior does not seem to care about the children and our football program. He should have known when he hired Youngblood that he was not simply just a yes man.
Paddy
February 5th, 2010
8:09 am
Little-man syndrome at work here! Harris can’t change, its in the genes.
dhs
February 5th, 2010
8:13 am
dhs player is very right i started every game and you can ask every player on the team and they will say he was a bad coach picked favorites and didnt help kids i cant wait to find out who my coach is because i wasted a year with him we started with about 70 kids and are final week had about 40 he started a sph. qb who couldnt throw the whole season to later on start a freshmen in the playoffs im calling a spade a spade dumb
hunker down
February 5th, 2010
8:13 am
Hello Coach,
I know right now it hurts but I can tell you that things ted to work out for the best. I have been in the same boat as you and looked back in life and realized all things have a reason and purpose for the best. Good luck to you!
hater
February 5th, 2010
8:16 am
fired
STEINER
February 5th, 2010
8:23 am
Shame on you Dr. Harris..Insubordination…WOW….You should try coaching and have someone take your players away at halftime when you are trying to make adjustments….Typical of what a high school coach has to deal with nowadays instead of just coaching the kids….if this type of stuff continues, in 10-15 years there will be no coaches…..Dr. Harris obviously has no clue about football, and if the coach does not make the necessary adjustments at halftime to win the games, you can bet Dr. Harris would be sitting there ready to fire him for not winning enough games…..
STEINER
February 5th, 2010
8:27 am
To dhs:
Son, you won’t make it with any coach….That is a novel idea, however….At season’s end let the Principal huddle with the players and decide whether the coach needs to go or stay….And do the same thing with the academic teacher, if he/she is too hard, then get rid of them and get one that you do not have to work too hard for….then the inmates will run the asylum…..
Vee
February 5th, 2010
8:29 am
In these times in particular, it’s unfortunate that Youngblood was fired; however, without having witnessed the event, I reserve comment as so many others should. Integrity, respect, responsibility, accountability and knowledge has no race, either a person has or they don’t. At some point in our lives we’ve all faced adversity, unfairness and injustice. If not, keep living, but it is how we deal with it that truly determines the outcome. Human nature is to fight back with demeaning words or actions, but that’s never the answer though you may feel vindicated. Remember Hurt people, hurt people. Coach Youngblood good luck and Principal Harris if you possess any of the qualities that I listed above then you will be a big enough man to make amends.
STEINER
February 5th, 2010
8:30 am
This principal needs to go because there is no way he could hire another Head Football Coach who would ever trust him….He no longer is a good “fit” for Dunwoody High as a Principal…
GW
February 5th, 2010
8:31 am
I know nothing about any of this but I feel bad for any coach that gets fired over in-school politics. I would have suggested to Youngblood that he not play it out in the newspaper. Administrators are like a pack of wolves and now it may be tough for him to get another coaching job anywhere near Atlanta.
GSU Eagle
February 5th, 2010
8:32 am
Mike….see if Coach Monken has an opening for you! Maybe you could come back to the ‘Boro and coach LB’s!
Rod
February 5th, 2010
8:35 am
Fire the Principal now and rehire the coach. Why would you come in the locker room and try to pull players out of a meeting! The coaches job is to win. It is clear the principal needs to be demoted today. I hope he is surprised when he is demoted or fired.
dhs
February 5th, 2010
8:36 am
he wasnt right for the job
he didnt listen to any other coach dunwoody football had one coach last year and the team wasnt organized at all he constantly kicked kids off the team just depending on how he felt not to mention one practice he got mad and walked off the field and went home
in words of youngblood business is business
dhs parent
February 5th, 2010
8:39 am
As a Dunwoody parent, but whose student isn’t on the football team, I can’t stand Dr. Harris. However, there is so much more to this story then what has been reported here.
I hope that Harris is soon gone from DHS but Youngblood wasn’t a good fit for a program that needs rebuilding.
I won’t drag either man’s name through the mud, but please remember that there is more here than meets the eye.
wildcat
February 5th, 2010
8:39 am
He walked out on us at practice just
for the heck of it ive never heard of that
kids are kids but walking out on them isnt a good example at all
coaches are suppose to be father figures and i hope i never become like him
Wildcat Pride
Mr. Right
February 5th, 2010
8:43 am
All Coaches at All Levels need to read Quiet Storm by Tony Dungy and take notes. First Class.
Actually every person at every level needs to read it and learn how to act like a good and fair human being.
rico43
February 5th, 2010
8:47 am
Always two sides to this kind of story. Being written up for insubordination is a big deal; this should have been resolved at that time. It seems clear that all sides will befit from Youngblood moving on.
Saddenbytherhetoric
February 5th, 2010
8:47 am
The DHS community wants people willing to build a “team” (players, coaches, admin, parents, community) and earn respect and demonstrate leadership. It simply wasn’t happening. I for one am glad a hard decision was made…and all can move on. Comments written here by the real players speak volumes. For those closest to this…it is very clear which comments are coming from those guys. WILDCAT PRIDE!!!!
DHS player
February 5th, 2010
8:47 am
first of all i am on the team i started every single game this year, playing time is not my problem. how he handled our team is the problem. he wasnt that great of a coach, he would waste timeouts to argue penalties or plays that just occured. If any of you went to any of our games you would realize all of these things, the offense was dry and couldnt move the ball and our defense was often underprepared and we lost a few bad games that we should’ve easily won. Ask most of the players and they are very upset in how this season went.
FYI- At dunwoody if you play sports that takes care of your PE credit. so the weightlifting class isnt necessary. we lifted after practice anyway.
This is a real player that is well informed about this situation.
Buzz
February 5th, 2010
8:56 am
Grown-Up…. Did Coach Bracco leave last year? Do you know where he is coaching now?
Joe
February 5th, 2010
9:06 am
Don’t they have “due process” in Dunwoody or is this principal above the law?
Spalding Woods
February 5th, 2010
9:08 am
Why is it that none of the DHS students who are leaving comments here can spell, capitalize, or punctuate? Their written communications tell us more about DHS than does the firing of a coach.
Old Coach
February 5th, 2010
9:14 am
Sounds like a total lack of communication between principal and coach. I do not know either of the individuals in this school however if a principal came in to my half time adjustment and wanted to take players to participate in halftime activities I think we would have real problems for sure! Did this school hire the coach for halftime activites or to lead the football team? Whether the coach was the next Vince Dooley or a very poor coach the principal needs to keep his backside out of half time adjustments. How could this be planned with both sides being on the same page?
Reality
February 5th, 2010
9:20 am
The principal is a self centered power hungry egomaniac. Dunwoody will get what they deserve. I hope they lose every game in the future. What a classless school board and principal. Unbelievable!!!!
SACS
February 5th, 2010
9:23 am
Dekalb Co. AKA Clayton Co. North!
An Old HS Sports Fan
February 5th, 2010
9:30 am
Montrell
February 5th, 2010
2:10 am
Just another example of the government trying to keep the black man down in this city. I’ve had enough and may move back to Jersey next year
Montrell, please move back to New Jersey and don’t wait till next year……and, take three million of your black friends with you – tit for tat
irishmafia
February 5th, 2010
9:39 am
Have a daughter going thru similar problems with her principal in Gwinnett. Somehow they think theu are King or Queen and all below them are their subjects. Another big reason education is in the state it is in. Also why so many great teachers leave the profession rather than deal with a constant flow of idiots in charge
Doktur Phil
February 5th, 2010
9:46 am
It is as simple as “black pride”. Harris felt “disrespected”. Instead of pulling out his 9mm and “popping a cap” in his ass, he fired him. Mr. Harris’ ego needs to have a cap popped into it to deflate it!
Civil Duty
February 5th, 2010
9:46 am
This Principal should not be allowed the reign over any school that sponsors athletic programs. It is overtly known that you DO NOT interfere with a coach and his/her team during an interscholastic activity. It is vitally important and necessary for ALL teammates to be on the same page,hear and make adjustments to counter-act problem(s) areas of the First Half. To win,it is vitally necessary for a team to take advantage of the last 3 minutes of the First half,the first 3 minutes of the 2nd half, and the last 3 minutes of the contest.Short of a family/school emergency or police matter,you just do not interfere.This principal let his ego overrule his id while his super-ego sat on his shoulder laughing at his stupidity.
Crazy Hoops
February 5th, 2010
9:48 am
Spalding Woods: You make a good point.
All these so-called Dunwoody players bitching and moaning about he made us practice and lift weights. Sounds like coach was trying to build a championship caliber program like the one he came from at Tucker. When coach Stephens took over a Tucker a lot of players and parents were happy because he brought in a new way of doing things, much like he learned from the championship program at Camden County, which he was a part of. In two years, he did what other coaches at Tucker failed to do, win a state title in the second-highest classification.
Remember, McNair principal wanted to go in a new direction, and look what happen to their team. Good luck Dunwoody, because you will need it.
Pothead
February 5th, 2010
9:50 am
Tell the coach that Cook County Hornets will be looking for a new coach since the passing of thier head coach on Wed. (may god bless his soul). They will need a good coach to keep them flying high!
Pack Man
February 5th, 2010
9:53 am
One of the most important qualifications for being the “head” of anything, coaching, principal, CEO, president, is that you MUST communicate well – and often. This situation will probably not be resolved to Coach Youngbloods satisfaction but my hope is that he now understands the need for good communication always. To the principal I’d say unless you improve you communications skills, Dunwoody HS may have to live with mediocre coaching – they’d be the ONLY ones who’d work for Dale Davis or the DeKalb school system.
Michael
February 5th, 2010
9:53 am
This is another example of why DeKalb School System is floundering with so many scandels involving the Superintendent on down. It has been a long time in DeKalb since education and well being of the school children were put first rather than supporting one’s ego, power, or how much money they can get by raising pay for the superintendent who makes a shady deal on a county owned vehicle he purchased that was way below its value and using his county credit cared to fill up his vehicle three time in one day several times. The former female who was responsible for buildings has been demoted and being investigated for steering school renovation contracts to her husband. still has a job making $200,000.00 plus a year. By the way, she was also investigated for the purchase of a county vehicle far below its value. All the while, teachers are taking pay cuts, furlough days and losing what used to be paid holidays. Seems as though from the school principal up it’s all about them, not the children. Coach, be thankful they let you go so you can get the hell out of a floundering school system that has inept administration. No wonder student achievement, test scores, athletics are going down a steep hill of decline. I remember the days of Superintendent Jim Cherry when DeKalb was the best in the state academically, in test scores and athletics. Some will want to say that it is because DeKalb became blacker. Do you think that black children can’t learn as well as white children or excel in sports as well as white children. I think NOT. Back in the days of Jim Cherry, it was all about the children. The current Administration in DeKalb has sold out the children for themselves.
Keeping It Real
February 5th, 2010
9:54 am
Lets not forget that school is for education and not football. Like it or not, the principal is responsible for all things on the high school campus including the football program. I am sure that the coach and the players knew about their involvement in the half time activities. I remember back in my high school days that star athletes often escorted young ladies at half time events. Football and the coach does not trump the principal and his responsibilities. Finally, how in the hell does race get involved in this event? Get a grip folks.
Dr. Hoop
February 5th, 2010
9:54 am
If Coach Youngblood can get cleared by the district….he could apply for the Chamblee Football job (vacant) and take it out on Dunwoody right away next season. Although, he’d have to overcome the worst facilities in 4A
An Old HS Sports Fan
February 5th, 2010
9:55 am
Did Ron Seabre have any input into the firing? I doubt it…..he’s just a figure head……doesn’t really do anything.
The Mayor
February 5th, 2010
9:55 am
Spalding Woods – are you serious? Are you really going to judge the quality of education by a couple of students “texting” here? Have you ever read any of your kids text messages? Kids today don’t worry about grammar, punctuation, etc., when they are texting. All 3 of my kids are products of DHS, gradutated with > 3.7 and ACT scores >28. And yours?
DHS Player
February 5th, 2010
10:00 am
This wasnt an issue with the principal. It was Youngbloods problem from the beginning. He was the only one that coached. The offensive and deffensive coordinators were not allowed to do anything. Youngblood was the one with the big ego here not Dr. Harris.
AcademicsShouldBeKING
February 5th, 2010
10:02 am
Fact is High school and all K-12 athletics should be a part of the community Recreation Department and not affiliated with schools. Coaches largely feel they rule the schools and unfortunately many athletes also believe they are the kings of the school all because they participate in this extracurricular activity. They often struggle academically but care less since as children they all believe they will make millions in the NFL someday. This should not even be a news event but unfortunately our society is more concerned with who won some game rather than seriously addressing the problems within our communities like global warming, racism, Industrial flight out of the USA leaving us with jobs as Walmart greeters, etc.
Captain Reality
February 5th, 2010
10:04 am
Why was this not discussed prior to game day? Such as the homecoming committee telling the players they are expected on the field for the festivities and the players telling the coach and never going to the locker room.
John A.
February 5th, 2010
10:14 am
Sounds like Dunwoody High lost more than a coach in this instance. i.e respect. Somebody will take the job, but why would the sane ones want it?
Barnacle Bill Bavasi
February 5th, 2010
10:19 am
Sounds like the principal is a very small person. She should be fired.