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
kevin davis NEED HUMILITY
February 5th, 2010
10:23 am
Kevin Davis played a little pro ball. got a doctor degree and little position and now you can’t tell him $h!t. HUMBLE URSELF MR.DAVIS! this is not the nfl where you fire coaches to go in another direction because you can’t get alone. TRY READING THE BIBLE & STOP FEELING URSELF.
DHS player
February 5th, 2010
10:27 am
It is Youngblood’s fault. Not Dr. Harris’s. PERIOD
Paddy
February 5th, 2010
10:27 am
Can’t imagine there will be a long line of good coaches wanting to coach for this school’s administrator. When your boss has to step on a brick to kick a duck in the ass, you may want to give it a second thought.
DHS parent 2
February 5th, 2010
10:29 am
Hate to see anyone get fired,especially in these difficult times, but some of you guys are right, there were personal issues, between coach and Dr. Harris, Harris questioning students on personal issues involving coach and another faculty memeber.Which was very unprofessional when students need to be concentrating on their studies and not grown up affairs. DHS need to bring back Stacy Stepney, she was a good principal and had DHS under control.
Pete
February 5th, 2010
10:32 am
sounds like another bull crap situation with school administrators Big I–little U.
Big-Man
February 5th, 2010
10:37 am
RacisminDunwoody…..Mike Youngblood is not white.
ex DHS teacher
February 5th, 2010
10:39 am
I used to teach at DHS and left to go to another county because of the mess in Dekalb. Harris picked Youngblood over many more qualified applicants and has now realized his mistake. Harris may be an egomaniac but Youngblood gave him plenty of ammunition by acting like an immature, inexperienced teacher and coach. Youngblood did not work to establish a relationship with the boosters, the players, or the coaches who had been with those players for years (including their 12-1 season right before he came). There were coaches who the players loved and respected who had helped build the program and would have stayed, but Youngblood never even talked to them about playing.
Many players’ parents were never happy with Youngblood – the way he spoke to the players, did not make personal connections with the players, and his lack of offensive knowledge. Harris heard all of this all season and took it all into account. The argument at half time was ONE SMALL incident – of course Youngblood is going to cite that as the reason – What else would he say? Is he going to admit that he wasn’t up for the challenge of being a head coach. HE, himself, told players that he was going to leave DHS next year if his old head coach got a better job because he wanted to go to a bigger, better school. He spouted off to the players and parents about leaving DHS – not what to do if you want to keep your job. Youngbllod did nothing to build the freshman program in football. He came in to a good program that should have had a better season than they did and whoever comes after him has to rebuild what he has let slip.
Everyone posting should realize that there is a very one sided story here. Events all season led to this firing.
Coach2
February 5th, 2010
10:39 am
Dunwoody will be much better off without Coach Youngblood. He needs some time to grow up and figure out why he wants to coach. “Business is Business”? Why not just tell your players it’s all about you and the players are just a means to the end? When Coach Youngblood realizes he is not Coach Stevens, he may become a decent coach.
Fatty McBuffett
February 5th, 2010
10:41 am
Mr. Harris needs his @$$ kicked. How disrespectful and unprofessional of him.
Jim 007
February 5th, 2010
10:55 am
Fired after one season and a winning one at that ??
Either something else is going on or the Administration is comprised of Ego Manic Buffons
Vandy
February 5th, 2010
10:59 am
So 1 yr as football coach and the man was fired? This coach did not have time to get contol of this team – its not like this is the NFL or even a 5A school! Sounds to me like spoiled football players / parents & an egotistical principal threw a tantrum and got this Coach booted. DHS is turning into the ‘hood anyway, they have worse problems to tend with. Its no secret that many parents take their kids out of Dunwwody schools before they reach HS. Coach Youngbood will be better off getting out from the disaster.
Weirdos
February 5th, 2010
11:06 am
So the coach did nothing wrong and got fired from his coaching spot because of it? That’s so bizarre. It’s not like high school football, even in GA, makes huge $ like the Falcons. Oh, and the fact that they’re just kids learning & playing a sport. No need to take it so seriously as the jerk principal did. Here’s to a nice lawsuit coming his way.
Ward Gailey
February 5th, 2010
11:14 am
I am saddened by this action. I got the same treatment from someone else in power above me, a “Christian” minister. His proxies said the same thing: we want the program to go in a different direction. Ironically, in my absence, they are doing a lot of the same stuff I did when I was there. I remember the offender coming into my program during an inportant meeting, and extricate a committee person from my proceedings on a whim. It happens all the time. These offenders need to beware: karma happens. Good luck, coach.
DHS Parent
February 5th, 2010
11:41 am
Believe me when I say Dr. Harris made the right move here. Coach Youngblood may know a lot about football but he is not Head Coach material. He also has been written up several times for his poor job as a math teacher. He has an official complaint agianst him for sexual harassment and has done nothing to help the senior boys to get scholarship offers. He has been talking for months about taking another coaching position. He is lucky he didn’t have criminal charges brought against him for beating the players with a weightlifting belt. Coach next time you want to leak a story to the paper you might want to share all of the facts. Keep your head up Dr. Harris, good move!!!!
BCbears
February 5th, 2010
11:43 am
come on back home 2d county and coach our defense Mike so we can win a state title
Vandy
February 5th, 2010
11:54 am
Be very careful DHS Parent. Do you know the definition of libel?
Micheal
February 5th, 2010
11:58 am
That is pathetic. I went to Peachtree High School back in the day and 7 – 5 record and a playoff round was a great year! What the heck Dunwoody? Such a pathetic firing! Dunwoody has always been a great school and I guess now with the changes in Dekalb county, stupid decisions will happen more often! I am sorry Coach!
Donna Sears
February 5th, 2010
12:39 pm
I believe Mr. Youngblood. I’m a parent and I had an encounter with Mr. Harris. He struck me has having a big ego. I think what he did was vindictive. But Mr. Youngblood, keep your head high and you will get another coaching job. Mr. Harris, his time is coming. He does not know how to talk to the students, he is very arrogant with parents. He does not need to be the principal of any school.
class of 09
February 5th, 2010
12:39 pm
Coach youngblood is a dousche, and deserved what he got. But Dr. Harris is an even bigger dousche and the best thing that could happen for dunwoody is for them to get rid of that both of them so they are halfway there. Dr. Harris is a power hungry man suffering from short man’s syndrome!! Bring Ms. Stepeny back!! Dr. Harris has led dunwoody straight to the crapper. And Youngblood, this was a learning experience for you to know that is not how you coach a football team. The best thing that you could do is watch the man Coach Teter for a week or so. That’s how you coach football, not the bull crap you pulled this season. So, dekalb county thank you for firing this loser football coach, now on to firing this loser principal!!!!!!!!!!
96' Kicker / Punter
February 5th, 2010
12:44 pm
They should bring in a old player to coach! Class of 96′ Rules
Kinda sounds like there were a mixed feelings on both sides…It is over a done with now lets look at getting the old number 16 from 96′ as the head coach…Roots run deep and loyal! You Got That Wilcat Pride!
PhishHead
February 5th, 2010
12:44 pm
Harris lay off the reefer, you dont know how to run a school, your eyes are always red and you complain that you have allergies when its december, why dont we get a princible that knows how to run a school, and not a dumbass.
PhishHead
February 5th, 2010
12:45 pm
all i can say..DR. HARRIS YOU SUCK.
binji lorick
February 5th, 2010
12:48 pm
so long coach!
class of 09
February 5th, 2010
12:51 pm
principal is a prick, coach youngblood is a prick, both deserve to be fired. i had the “privilege” of being a student at DHS while Dr. Harris was principal and let me tell you it was anything but wonderful. If I could compare him to one person in history it would definitely be napolean. The disrespect he treated people with, even my own mom, made me want to kick his @$$, i just kept thinking he will definitely get his and now its time for him to get fired! i also had the privilege of starting for coach teter for 3 years and having a lot of succes under him. Let me tell you it was a treat (including region champs and 12-1!!!!!!!!!!!!), dunwoody never will find a coach like him. when i met youngblood i knew that dunwoody was in trouble, all the coaches quit on the first day he came because he was a prick now thats saying something. He had to much talent for the season he had, the one game i went to (st. pius) could have easily been won if some smarts had been thought about it. Coach Beinke i feel for you having to coach behind a dousche bag like that, good things are coming for you Coach B.
lili
February 5th, 2010
12:58 pm
i think that they need to get him out of the school …. there been issues on this lil man.. bring coach back and let lil UGLY GO ..BECAUSE IM SICK OF HIS BOW TIE ASSS!!!
Dakalb Citizen
February 5th, 2010
2:12 pm
Dekalb Parent,,,,I want you know I’m a UGA graduate
LionProud
February 5th, 2010
2:14 pm
If I’m not mistaken, the way some schools have handled the homecoming activities situation is to allow the players nominated to be on the Homecoming Court to select a “substitute” to stand in for them during the half-time festivities. The subsitute didn’t have to be a student at the high school either. This way the player gets to stay with the team at half-time where he should be yet the “ceremony” can go on. Then at the dance the following night the Homecoming Court is “officially” crowned. Once school that I know which did this had the whole thing turn out really well! Several of the players selected a sibling to represent them; and not just a brother. Some even selected their sisters! It was really kind of neat and everyone had a lot of fun!
Driver
February 5th, 2010
2:30 pm
There is more here than is being said. Dr. Harris arrogant? Yes. There is not any structure at that school. The mood of the schools staff and students is hum drum. My students talk about this school as if they hate to be there. Dr. Harris knows about football. Check out his creditials. He played in high school, college, and pro. This was much more than a homecoming game spat. I feels sorry fir the academics of the school and the morale of the staff more than I care about the football program. These programs are ran at there best when you have great staff, student, and parental support.
Of Concern
February 5th, 2010
3:00 pm
Mostly everyone has posted the same about Mr. Harris and that he is an egostitical, arrogant, bragging individual. I cannot believe that they let him continue to be a principal. He cares nothing of the students, he talks down to them, he does not try to help them in any way. He talks to them as though they are in boot camp. I have no idea if the coach was good, bad or indifferent but I do know Mr. Harris is NOT principal material. Some players may say he is not a good coach because he may have been a little hard on them, some parents may say he wasn’t good because he may not have catered to their child(ren). I don’t know – but what I do know is that I have had an encounter with Mr. Harris. When you try to talk to him in a reasonable manner, he tries to talk to you as though you don’t know anything, he’ll even throw up what degrees he have (not knowing I had more); he’ll try to make you think he is the master of knowledge and not realizing he is making himself look ignorant. When he is talking to you, he tries to make you feel as though he’s the only “intelligent” person in the room and you’re beneath him. Maybe, as some has stated he has a serious complex about having ‘SMS’ (short man syndrome). He made me feel that this is the first job that he has had that put him in charge of something and he is hungry for power. He wants to be the big cheese, not caring about what he should be caring about and that is his students and faculty. He should want to bring Dunwoody up, not take Dunwoody down. He should want everyone to excel, be part of the big picture, but no he wants to be the whole picture, no matter what it takes. He should be trying to keep harmony, not stirring up confusion. He’s the worst prinicipal (in my opinion) and it confuses me as to why he has not been reported to DeKalb County School Board or the Board of Education. Maybe he had a legitimate reason for letting the coach go, I don’t know, but if he is the same person I had the displeasure of meeting with because of my child, it was due to something that probably could have been worked out if it weren’t for his arrogance and ego tripping. After that initial meeting, I knew there was a problem with him and I had heard from other students and a few faculty members about their dislike of him and that’s not unusual for subordinates to have a dislike of their superiors for one reason or another, but these were for all the same reasons and they all CANNOT be wrong. Even my own would tell me, people just don’t know how “Dr. Harris” really is. She would tell me of different things he would do to students. At any rate, I removed her from Dunwoody because of him, nothing more and nothing less. The coach only coaches a hand full of students, but a principal is responsible for an entire school of students, his staff and faculty members and that carries more weight and it should not be about ego, power tripping, dishonesty, or attitude. It should be about being a good leader, one of integrity and sensitivity when it is needed, being able to lead without all the drama. It should be about not being competitive among your own faculty but one of creating harmony and working together and committing to see that the students get the best education they can get and that your faculty can look up to you. It should not be about altercations, even though they will happen, but it should be about knowing how to diffuse the altercation or resolve them in a professional adult-like manner. What happen to warnings, what happen to probations, etc.? Everyone will have an opinion, even me, but I do know Dr. Harris is not principal material until he can mature and know how to handle being a responsible leader (and not letting it go to his head), one who knows what it entails to be a true leader. He is a person who cannot handle a position of authority because he will definitely let you know “Who’s The Boss” and if he were a true leader he wouldn’t have to prove it, it would already be known. And remember both sides are going to leave out a little something in their story. That is why there are 3 sides to a story: their side, your side and the side that has never been told. Good luck Coach Youngblood and hopefully good riddance Mr. Harris!!!
Vee
February 5th, 2010
3:40 pm
Could the Coach have gone into Dr. Harris’ meeting and requested that a teacher leave? Also, while I agree that students should be able to participate in all extracurricular activities, if the players were really interested in trying to win, they wouldn’t have wanted to participate during half-time anyway. Again this is about RESPECT. I was a DeKalb County student/grad and we took pride in our school as well as county, but now DeKalb is a joke; students, parents, teachers & coaches. If the adults don’t know how to resolve their issues,then how can they expect the students/athletes to. Citizens it’s time to stop talking & start doing on all levels. We can’t change what we’re willing to tolerate!!!
Dunwoody Mom
February 5th, 2010
3:53 pm
The Basketball coach is only one year into his job. Wonder if he or any other coaches should be looking over their shoulders! LOL! In this case it stands for “Lack of Leadership”
GO to RIVAL
February 5th, 2010
3:54 pm
Chamblee needs a Coach and he would get to play against Dunwoody next year since they will be in the same region hmm.
class of 09
February 5th, 2010
4:01 pm
Vee, I played football for coach teter last year, and none of us wanted to participate in the half time festivities of homecoming, but Dr. Harris had to show how powerful he was and come and interrupt one of our practices and tell us that we had to participate or we couldn’t play in the game. Even after many of us players got up and told him that we didn’t want to participate. Dr. Harris is a power-hungry egotistical little man, who is not fit for running a high school. He cares more about how he looks, then he does about the kids. He has driven many teachers, coaches and students away from DHS. It is a very sad thing because many of my friends younger siblings are switching over to the private schools and some our even moving to get away from him. If i had not been a senior last year, I would not have stayed at dunwoody, just because of Dr. Harris. Do you think it is a coincidence that dunwoody had to replace over 20 teachers last year? I think not. It reflects upon the leadership of the school. Nothing like this ever happened when we had the pleasure of having Ms. Stepney as the principal. Dunwoody was a very stable school and was really having a lot of success until Dr. Harris came into the picture. I think it is time to find another principal. I graduated last year and my younger sibling transferred from the school (because my parents knew where dunwoody was headed) but i still care about where dunwoody goes and right now its headed in the wrong direction. I loved my time at dunwoody high school and I want every kid to have the same experience i did.
ga_boi
February 5th, 2010
4:38 pm
To all the idiots….the coach and the principal are both black. Nobody liked Youngblood anyways…
class of 09
February 5th, 2010
4:40 pm
what does their race have to do with anything?
DHS ROCKS!
February 5th, 2010
4:55 pm
DR Harris is a stupid princpal he probaloy does drugs coach youngblood hang in there and forget dr harris he is a pice of trash ok and by the way dunwoody high school is the best go wildcats
slalom1
February 5th, 2010
5:11 pm
I know very little about Coach Youngblood and even less about Dr. Harris. However had Coach Youngblood won the hearts and minds of the parents of the players at DHS, there would be an outcry of protests. I have not seen that. If Coach Youngblood was so great, why are we not hearing more from the parents of the players? Dr. Harris has been described as a little “Napolean”. I find that description somewhat demeaning to a man who is obviously well educated and chose a field where he makes much less money than in the corporate world where with a P.H.D he would be compensated much greater. Granted, I am an outsider and do not know all the facts. But from what I can tell, Dr. Harris has committed his professional life to education. What has Coach Youngblood committed his life to?
Drago
February 5th, 2010
5:31 pm
DeKalb is the new Clayton.
I285
February 5th, 2010
5:32 pm
There is no outcry from the player’s parents because we are all happy to see Youngblood leave. I am not happy about the way the situation was handled, but Youngblood antagonized the vast majority of parents. There was either zero communication or misleading communication all year with parents. His coaching had noting to do with the team record, DHS was and still is loaded with talent. They will be a very good team without Youngblood
The real story
February 5th, 2010
5:41 pm
Its both of the sides fault. Youngblood didn’t just have the homecoming incident. TRhere was a lot more things that happened. Dr.HArris on the other hand took offense to Youngblood saying no. So his ego got the best of him. Youngblood was a crazy cpoach. But they went 7-5 with 5 returning starters. Thats pretty damn good. Now Dunwoody is enetring 4A without a coach. Thats dumb on Dr.Harris fault.
dwoodfan
February 5th, 2010
6:05 pm
ok what since does that make u went to the playoffs, had a winning season etc. i mean the principle needs to think a little more often. great coach ok. just cause he doesnt like you doesnt mean you shoudleve fired him
eye of the tiger
February 5th, 2010
6:57 pm
DHS Player: you sound very stupid complaining about lifting weights and being punished. georgia high school football aint for lil boys thats probably why yall suck now. youngblood was tryna get yall boys bigger and only taking some of the things he learned from franklin at tucker (which won a state championship that year) you gotta have discipline and be leaders in the school as STUDENT ATHLETES and if ur not doing u deserve any punishment which is giving to you. grow some balls boy you couldnt play at the next level crying about this lil stuff, u also wouldnt servive a day at a tucker practice where we paly real big boy football not that Bi*tc* stuff. ive personaly been coached by youngblood when he was at tucker and he is a good coach and a good person. keep ya head up youngblood
wildcat
February 5th, 2010
7:24 pm
eye of the tiger your an idiot tucker won state because yall had atheletes that year and yall sucked this year thats why we beat yall a d camp and at yall practice field yall had johnathon davis a student who couldnt read so dont play that student athlete crap he was dumb and shouldnt have graduated high school so f u and youngblood
Confused?
February 5th, 2010
7:45 pm
class of 09: What’s a dousche, and/or dousche bag?
Demetria Washington
February 5th, 2010
8:16 pm
I have been friends with Youngblood for many years…I have NEVER seen him disrepected (his parents did not bring him up that way)…I have no idea how this whole story can to be, but I DO know that it is a darn shame a talented young man is left without a job, doing something that he loved! It’s a darn shame that we go to school to get good careers and to only be faced with people that do NOT want us to have a career. I am in a similar situation and it’s sicken. But the only advise I have for my dear friend Youngblood is to pray and keep your head up. People WILL reap what they sow! Just make sure that you are rooted and grounded in the Word and look it from a brighter side: God has something BETTER in store for you! Life takes us through all these changes and sometimes we do not understand why and even question why, but the answer is left up to the Lord for HE knows what is best for us! Keep praying my friend! We have been going through a lot lately also, but I refuse to give the devil the victory…I HAVE THE POWER and AUTHORITY over him, so why should I be afraid???!!!! I love you and am hear if you ever want to talk, you have my number! Keep in touch and have STRONG faith, everything WILL be alright! You are going to look back on today and smile and say thank you Jesus for getting me out of that situation and bringing me into a better one! Watch!
Demetria Washington
February 5th, 2010
8:21 pm
Let’s try this again…I had a few typos ugh!!!!
I have been friends with Youngblood for many years…I have NEVER seen him disrepectful (his parents did not bring him up that way)…I have no idea how this whole story came to be, but I DO know that it is a darn shame a talented young man is left without a job, doing something that he loved! It’s a darn shame that we go to school to get good careers and to only be faced with people that do NOT want us to have a career. I am in a similar situation and it’s sicken. But the only advice I have for my dear friend Youngblood is to pray and keep your head up. People WILL reap what they sow! Just make sure that you are rooted and grounded in the Word and look at it from a brighter side: God has something BETTER in store for you! Life takes us through all these changes and sometimes we do not understand why and even question why, but the answer is left up to the Lord for HE knows what is best for us! Keep praying my friend! We have been going through a lot lately also, but I refuse to give the devil the victory…I HAVE THE POWER and AUTHORITY over him, so why should I be afraid???!!!! I love you and am here if you ever want to talk, you have my number! Keep in touch and have STRONG faith, everything WILL be alright! You are going to look back on today and smile and say thank you Jesus for getting me out of that situation and bringing me into a better one! Watch!
Spalding Woods
February 5th, 2010
8:27 pm
The Mayor – Yes, I’m serious. And I hope you’re not really the mayor. You left an apostrophe off “kids’.” I have no kids of my own, but I sure wouldn’t accept those kids’ writing quality from an employee of mine. I work for a Fortune 100 company, but they probably won’t, unless they learn how to write standard English.
DHS Cheerleader
February 5th, 2010
9:17 pm
Coach Youngblood was very nice, and we did a lot better than we thought we would this season, but I hear there were some problems. At homecoming, he was well aware that the football players who were on homecoming court were supposed to walk. I was standing next to the football players when I was warming up, and Coach Younblood refused to let them go out there. Only at the very end were they allowed to go stand on the field. I remember sometimes that he almost didn’t let the football players go over to the stands to do wildcat pride, which is a tradition. This is completley one sided article that makes Dr. Harris seem like the bad guy. I’m not saying either of them are, just Youngblood didn’t fully absorb The Dunwoody Wildcat Pride.
Coach_Joe
February 6th, 2010
3:42 am
Coach continue to do what you do. Good things always happen to good people. As a former coach in Dekalb County it has always been known that football is not king in Dekalb County if you don’t believe that just ask Ron Sebree. Stay up Coach!
Freddy Falcom
February 6th, 2010
8:17 am
Negro v. negro….no room for more ego…both should go bye bye