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
Pryncess
February 4th, 2010
9:47 pm
Sounds like Mr. Principal had too big of an ego. I’m sure Mr. Youngblood will find another job soon. There are plenty of high schools looking for a good coach.
Bill
February 4th, 2010
9:51 pm
Hang in Coach. What goes around comes around and Harris will get his dues. Bet on it!
As good a Coach as you are and great example you will get another Head Job.
Dunwoody is the loser…not you.
bje
February 4th, 2010
10:03 pm
Sounds like the coach is Conan O’Brien and the principal is Jeffrey Zucker. The principal loses this one in the end – only because it was reported in this paper. Now the news spreads and the principal falls.
Tek
February 4th, 2010
10:08 pm
How unfair! Reminds me of, ummm, “mess with the bull and you’ll get the horns”.
Class of 1985
February 4th, 2010
10:17 pm
Sorry Coach..but bring back David Kelly!!!
racebaiter
February 4th, 2010
10:27 pm
I bet the coach is white and the principal is black
H.S. Coach
February 4th, 2010
10:27 pm
Sorry to hear that Coach. Sounds like it wasn’t a good situation for you to begin with. Better to get out now and find a place that will appreciate your talent.
dumb as a BOE member
February 4th, 2010
10:30 pm
This principal has got to go! Little man with a big Napolean complex. Reminds me of that little twerp who played sheriff in Clayton County. Send him packing, bring back the coach.
I Know
February 4th, 2010
10:33 pm
Oh my, not another arrogant, big ego principal! I could write a book. As a matter of fact, I am writing a book about a past egotistical, Mr. know it all, “can’t touch me” principal. I am in the initial stages but by the end of the story, it should hit the “Best Sellers” List!!!
Crazy Hoops
February 4th, 2010
10:35 pm
Sounds like the situation at McNair at the beginning of the season. Another DeKalb principal with an ego. DeKalb is losing all its good football coaches and getting all these ego principals. In a couple years, DeKalb will be just like it Atlanta Public School buddies as far as football goes – sorry.
Communist Nerd
February 4th, 2010
10:35 pm
No doubt the idiot Harris was confuse and thought he was the Owner and GM of the Atlanta Falcons…….
HS Insider
February 4th, 2010
10:44 pm
at racebaiter… they both are black
Dekalb Schools are in a state of disbelief period! This firing is uncalled for and isn’t a football decision. Beginning to understand why Dekalb will not have schools in the deep rounds of the playoffs.
relljam productions
February 4th, 2010
10:49 pm
yo coach youngblood ima miss ya, but yeh doctor harris is da biggest bitch
Steve Barton
February 4th, 2010
10:50 pm
I will leave it to others who have some real knowledge of the situation to sound off about what is going on. Let us note that only one side of the story is given here.
But there is a part that has the ring of truth: “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.
Yes, I would bet that “the principal and football coach don’t see eye to eye.”
Kim
February 4th, 2010
10:50 pm
I hope Dunwoody goes 0-12 next season. This ego freak of a principal is the one that should be fired. Football players should be in the locker room at halftime, not dancing around with the cheerleaders.
Fire Him
February 4th, 2010
10:53 pm
Hopefully, this jackass principal gets fired soon—he’s a real jerk.
Matt the Brave
February 4th, 2010
10:58 pm
Sounds like the principal doesn’t have a hold over his students or his faculty. Maybe DeKalb County schools needs to take a close look at this guy and find out what is going on.
FEED UP
February 4th, 2010
11:07 pm
Is any of this crap with Dekalb County going to end? What the heck is going on? We are not going to have to worry about overcrowding in our schools, because people are not going to stay in Dekalb with all this drama. So what a great role model for the students at Dunwoody. All the comments are sooo true about a principal with an ego, Napoleon complex, etc,etc. It is very sad, that in 2010 that there is still a black and white issue amongst everything else this county is dealing with.
Tim
February 4th, 2010
11:11 pm
Maybe the coach filled his gas tank three times in one day on the county gas card. No wait, that doesn’t get you in trouble in Dekalb County…..
Jeff in Calhoun
February 4th, 2010
11:18 pm
Hang in there coach! you will have another job soon. But, in the future I would not disobey the head man again.
William Mizell
February 4th, 2010
11:21 pm
Dunwoody is a big loser here. Mike, keep your head held high and stay true to your values. You will get another opportunity to coach and be a leader of young men. The next team you coach will benefit greatly from your leadership.
George P Burdell
February 4th, 2010
11:23 pm
Usually the way to move on is not throwing your former superior under the bus. Time has taught me that the truth always comes out. If Dr. Harris is the problem time will show it. You don’t need to get quoted in the paper to make it happen.
Good luck to Youngblood and hopefully through this experience both gentlemen will learn something.
DHS player
February 4th, 2010
11:26 pm
As a player i’m not surprised to see coach youngblood go. he never meshed well with the players, parents, and school staff. this isn’t just a principal-coach situation, the whole team had a problem with him. you could tell there was a lack of head coaching experience from the start with the expectations of doubling of dues, mandatory weight training class in lieu of an educational class, and discipling of kids for academics is to stay late after practice running. It seems their time would have been better used studying rather then being punished. By season’s end it was apparent we were only being coached by one guy. With one coach leaving this may have saved several coaches from quitting. There are also several other situations that led to this decision,don’t look at it as the principal trying to take control this is in response to multiple altercations. I hope next season goes more smoothly then the last.
By the way Kim
There is no way to go 0-12. its a 10 game season…
ButlerDawg
February 5th, 2010
12:04 am
To “Class of 1985″,
Coach Kelly has a bigger ego than either of these two guys, BELIEVE me. I think he is coaching at UCF nowadays, and that is where he needs to stay.
will irvin
February 5th, 2010
12:23 am
my children went to this school and i can tell you that principal harris is the worst principal/ person that i have ever had the encounter of meeting. i transfered my children out because of his arrogance and stupidity. dunwoody used to be a good school until he came there. the teachers will tell you that they hate this guy. somebody should do something about this guy before its too late for dunwoody. he thinks all the children are gang members and will go out of his way to destroy these kids lives. he even stole my son scarf. god will punish him. i hope the school board does it first.
will irvin
February 5th, 2010
12:26 am
this is not a black or white issue because i am black. principal harris is a ignorant fool.
Chico
February 5th, 2010
12:45 am
DHS player, I bet you are not a player! You are probably a disgruntled parent of a player! Disgruntled because your “baby” didnt get alot of “pt” because he can barely walk and chew gum! Let the coach be the coach and make the decisions and if you dont like it, well take your daughter, oops I meant son off the team! You say, “mandatory weight training class in lieu of an educational class.” Its football for cying outloud, they need to lift weights and Im sure that in lieu of an educational class is b.s.! If you just so happen to be a player, shut the hell up and keep your opinion to yourself, let the coach be the coach or go join the damn band!
Dekalb mess
February 5th, 2010
1:04 am
First Moore fired from and know one know what he was accused of, then Browning who later was found not guilty of anything accused of. Then Jarvis leftcause of the b.s that oes on in dekalb, Now youngblood. Who next buck godfrey, Gartrell, come on this is bull these young men need good role models and if dekalb doesnt get rite alot more coaches are going to leave.
Sadtoseeitthisway
February 5th, 2010
1:42 am
Seeing as we`re all taking sides, I think it`s time we bring someone in who can get to the bottom of this mess. It`s time to bring in Fred G. Sanford and Aunt Edna. Yes, the sparks will fly, but these two WILL figure it all out.
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.
Dixie Darling
February 5th, 2010
2:11 am
Hey Big Guys! Half time at Homecoming football games is damn important. Pretty girls gotta be escorted out on the field on the arms on their cutest football hero. So who cares whether the game is won or not. Homecoming is all about parties and who gets to be Queen. Don’t slam that poor ol’ principal. He was just all about making the Homecoming half time as exciting as any other beauty popularity contest.
Valdosta Dawg
February 5th, 2010
2:33 am
I do not have a dawg in this fight but the Coach was in the right, screw the halftime activities when you are in the middle of a game. See the principal needs to understand that adjustments are made at halftime and those boys needed to be a part of the haltime meeting to know what adjustments were being made. The principal has an ego problem, much like Michael Adams did not want to be shown up by Vince Dooley, this turd had to show who was boss. Coach good luck and I am sure you will land somwhere that appreciates what football means to a school! That would never happen at Valdosta High!
Dunwoody High fires its first-year football coach | Prep Zone: AJC … | I Love High School Football
February 5th, 2010
3:18 am
[...] Read more: Dunwoody High fires its first-year football coach | Prep Zone: AJC … [...]
verge
February 5th, 2010
3:40 am
DHS player, I agree with the other gentleman about your comments. Thats how the great schools build programs. I agree, you and your parents are upset over playing time..
Don't be hatin'
February 5th, 2010
4:43 am
If we knew that the coach’s interpretation of events was correct, then there might be good cause to be angry at the principal. However, we are only getting one side of the story. Professionalism and propriety prevent the principal from publicly discussing HIS side of the story. George P is correct … the coach’s public airing of his opinion is not likely to help him in the long run, and it could easily hamper his efforts to move forward into another head coaching position. Better to forgive, forget, and move on.
Larry
February 5th, 2010
6:28 am
Dunwoody is the obvious loser here. They are stuck with a petty, ego maniacal bureaucrat for a principal.
Dekalb Citizen
February 5th, 2010
6:34 am
We need to be reminded that school is about getting an education. It’s not a football proving ground. Look at all the idiots in the NFL, and the NBA. With a quality education they want go around making stupid decisions like Vick
Huh????
February 5th, 2010
6:43 am
What in sam hades is a principal barging into the middle of a team meeting at halftime? I don’t care if the “homecoming king” is supposed be on a float or not. It’s truly a shame because the kids are the losers here….
Coach
February 5th, 2010
6:45 am
Hey Kim! You can’t go 0-12 next year! 0-10 would be the max!
John Barnett
February 5th, 2010
6:59 am
If the Principal felt justified in “going in a different direction,” why didn’t he make that call as soon as the season was over and give Coach Youngblood a better chance to obtain another head job before many of them were filled? Corporate America has nothing on the teaching and coaching profession. Our business has become as cut-throat as any. Somehow, I can’t see a Principal coming in and taking players away from a meeting in which adjustments are being made from Luther Welsh, Larry Campbell, or any other of our legendary coaching giants in Georgia; nor should they have been taken out of Coach Youngblood’s meeting without all the details being worked out early.
batrol
February 5th, 2010
7:02 am
A principal getting fired????? Seriously????? When was the last time that happened??????? No, this egomaniac got what he wanted and will never feel the effects of it. The coach is better off. It sure seems like he knows what he’s doing and will hopefully land a better job.
NoLion
February 5th, 2010
7:08 am
Delalb Citizen, those idiots in the NFL and NBA make more money than I , who has owned a successful business for the past 35 years. I employ over 400 employees and have more stress than you can imagine. Any way, your CORRECT school is for an education, but so many children cannot, for one reason or another, grasp concepts, learn, read , write, etc. Sports, is their only hope at making anything out of their lives. A school is just like a business, The principal is in charge of approx 100 staff and faculty, 1500-2000 students, a big job, bigger responsibilities. They have to get along and strive to achieve their goals(learning). If they cannot work together then someone has to go. Society tells us, The principal is the boss and the coach is the employee. The employee cannot fire the boss….So no matter what the coach says, The principal still has the final say.
dawgfan13
February 5th, 2010
7:14 am
I totally understand what coach Youngblood is gpoing through because I was in a similiar situation at a Cobb County School. It is a shame that a principal can control a situation like that involving the due process of another person’s job because of a personal issue he has with a coach. I took a very poor girls basketball team and turned them into instant winners in one year and because the principal and I didnt see eye to eye dealing with issues involving player discipline, I was told to resign, but that I could remain as a teacher. I resigned both positions. Principals can lie on recommendations, break rules, use intimidation tacticts and many other things to stroke their egos and get rid of teachers and coaches. It is not fair! Someone needs to be looking in on them and their performance which often gets over looked because area supervisors are so busy dealing with state issues. It’s a shame and coach will resurface!
Robert Payne
February 5th, 2010
7:17 am
My son played for Coach Youngblood at Chattahoochee and he is not only a good coach but an excellent person. I was disappointed to see him leave Chattahoochee (the defense obviously suffered after he left) but I know that he will recover from this and be an even better head coach in the future.
Dick
February 5th, 2010
7:20 am
Montrel;
HOw can you tpe the statement, just another way t keep black man down. Did you look at the high school players in Georgia who signed with different colleges Wednesday. Don’t tell me about keeping black man down. 95% were black, who will use this as spring board to football in pros. Most of them in go in junior year because they are lacking on academics. I get so tired of the race card being played time after tme and usually by the black race.
Dekalb Parent
February 5th, 2010
7:21 am
To the Dekalb Citizen mentioning that the students need their education so that they do not end up like VICK – apparently you missed your education – the word is “won’t” not “want” end up like Vick.
MAMA One
February 5th, 2010
7:21 am
Montrell, please DON’T wait until next year-GO NOW! This is not a Black vs White issue-why do people always have to make it that????
H.S. Coach
February 5th, 2010
7:22 am
To DHS player,
That’s what good programs do, they hold you accountable for your actions. You want to slack off in school then you’ll have to run until the grade is acceptable. The weight training class is substituted for another PE class that you are in and only rarely does someone miss out on an educational class. As far as dues, I have no idea how much you guys were and are paying so I can’t comment on that. Sounds like he was laying the foundation for a program like every other successful coach I’ve been around.
H.S. Coach
February 5th, 2010
7:25 am
To NoLion, if you want a kid to stay out of trouble then their are several things you can do. One of them is having the kid attached to some sort of program like athletics, band, ROTC… But they have to have something in their life that they love and are attached to. If that kid loves and enjoys being there then they are much more likely to act right and get an education if they have something they are trying to keep in their life.
Saddened
February 5th, 2010
7:31 am
I was a Dekalb graduate back in the 80s when it was the place to be for a top notch education. Dunwoody was our biggest rival. Coaches, teachers and administration worked together for the good of the school and community. To those of you now in charge, thank you for ruining a once great school system. Wake up! You need coaches to act as role models and to help monitor the schools. There may have been some inappropriate actions by the coach but never would have happened if the Principal had stayed in the stands or with homecoming court where he belonged. I feel sorry for the Dunwoody community.
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.
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
grrrr
February 6th, 2010
9:52 am
dont worry about it too much coach youngblood (: dr harris is just a douchebag….i dont think hell last too much longer.
Wildcat Dad
February 6th, 2010
10:24 am
It was very hard to watch Youngblood’s coaching style slowly take the fun out of High School Football for my son and many other kids. The whole deal offered very little that you could consider positive for the kids. However, it was not an entirely negative experience for my family. We made some good friends and the games where a lot of fun. But in the end, I feel just like my son, I’m just glad it’s over. We should see if Goldie Hawn is available. She’s got that Wildcat Pride and I bet she’s a better coach/positive role model than Youngblood and a heckava lot more fun.
dwoods
February 6th, 2010
10:27 am
thats y he got cut from the broncos
VHS '84
February 6th, 2010
10:36 am
All i know is that iffa principal walked into a halftime locker room at my alma mater…the principal would be finding another job the following year…..but then again we are talkin about Dekalb(whata joke from the top down) school system. no wonder all the surrounding counties students s enrollments are bursting…Ill bet at least 25 percent of the kids in this county go to another school system other than dekalbs….any takers?
Mr. Bigstuff
February 6th, 2010
10:47 am
Michael Youngblood was the best things thats happened to Dunwoody football since Coach Kelly who is now at UCF. “Dr.” Harris can kiss ass.
DHS student
February 6th, 2010
4:03 pm
All of these people who are hating on Dunwoody need to shut their mouths becuase half of them are not associated with Dunwoody in the first place and have no idea what they are talking about. Based of of what I know and have heard about Youngblood, most players did not enjoy him as a coach. People need to respect what the players and Principle want. Youngblood should not have disobeyed Dr.Harris in the first place, he is everyone’s superior. Oh and for those of you who are trying to make this into a racist thing, the coach and principal are both black, so you need to eat your words.
Proud Parent
February 6th, 2010
4:32 pm
I am a DHS parent and I can witness to the arrogance of Dr. Harris. He is not the type of man who listens to his staff, students, or parents. He definitely thinks that he is above the law. This is about respecting the students and parents in which this Principle does not do. He does not care about the well being of his students, it’s all about him and how he looks at the end of the day. He is a sad case and will only run this school into the ground before it is all over with. This is not a black or white thing so lets not make it about that. There are many black students and parents who doesn’t like this guy.
Schoolisnotfootball
February 6th, 2010
5:28 pm
I think that the principal does take precedent over the football coach in terms of students’ activities during a traditional event, even those who are in the football program. However, I don’t think that this is a fair reason for being fired. Both men messed up to some extene, and both are suffering consequences.
DEKALB parent
February 6th, 2010
6:37 pm
I’m a parent of a DHS student and Dr. Harris doenst have a clue. The only person worst than him, im my opinion, is a clown over at Tucker Middle school by the name of Michael Gembala. Both of these males (they are not men) should leave the education profession altogether. I left Tucker because of Gembala and knowing that I would have to deal with different idiot in Mr. Jackson at Tucker High. But then I ended up with Harris. Wow. my son doesnt play sports so I can’t speak on Youngblood but Dekalb sucks.
antyoine
February 6th, 2010
6:42 pm
As a student of the football team at the time when youngblood was coach
i think it was a mistake firing youngblood he brought the team togther
as brothers and a family…….
Devil Lover
February 6th, 2010
8:37 pm
How about a Milton score?
1980 Alumni
February 6th, 2010
9:20 pm
I grew up in Dunwoody in the 70’s and early 80’s and played football at the school for 5 great years. Back in the day there was no better place to live in the Atlanta area than Dunwoody. It is very evident once they started busing kids in from all over the county in the early 80’s, this school has been on a down hill slide. No wonder parents are pulling their kids out of the public school system in record numbers. Nothing surprises me any more.
Dunwoody Grad 2009
February 6th, 2010
10:18 pm
I’ll use Bullet Points:
-Both are black, so stop the racebaiting.
-Being friends and acquaintances with a few football players, I can tell you that no one ever raved about Coach Youngblood the way they did about Coach Teter (although that might be due to the fact that Teter was a great coach/role model[and was a good health teacher to me, personally])
-Last year was Dr. Harris’s first year. Having personally dealt with him, I had no problems with him (the only people I knew of that did were the Yearbook people). I did, however notice, a landslide drop in student body discipline and multiple teachers deciding to transfer. My brother, a freshman, will be having a completely different high school experience from myself. However, I had attributed that to the many kids taking advantage of AYP, bringing a, quite frankly, lower quality student body to Dunwoody, diluting the academic talent pool. (If you want to start racebaiting here, I am white)
-Although I do question firing a coach that led the school to a playoff berth, ultimately losing to a state finalist, I do trust that Dr. Harris, as a former NFL practice squad member himself, has the Football/Athletic IQ to plug in a talented coach (which he was able to do with the basketball, losing a 2-time state championship coach, and replacing him with a coach that has led them to only 3 losses and a Top10 ranking in AAA). It will be imperative that he does so, especially for the upcoming year, which if I recall correctly, has no standout FBS/FCS prospect seniors.
…I think that’s all I have. I’ll throw in a “Go Dawgs! Sic ‘Em!” for good measure.
Dunwoody Grad 2009
February 6th, 2010
10:24 pm
Also, I forgot, I was going to mention that I noticed that those with discipline and self control took advantage of the freedom Dr. Harris gave to the student body, this freedom being virtually non-existent under fmr. Principal Ms. Stepney. These discipline issues were the type of things that HS kids should have been taught before coming to school in my opinion, so I don’t believe Dr. Harris is to blame on that front.
DHS student
February 6th, 2010
10:50 pm
Dont hate on yearbook.
Dunwoody Grad 2009
February 7th, 2010
2:36 am
haha, I’m not hating at all, I <3 those yearbook girls
BIG H.
February 7th, 2010
7:17 am
IT SEEMS TO BE A PATTERN.FISRT COACH RODERICK MOORE FIRED BY A JACK-ASS PRINCIPAL FOR STUPID NONSENSE REASONS. NOW COACH MICHAEL YOUNGBLOOD OVER ANOTHER SENSELEES INCIDENT THAT COULD EASILY BEEN WORKED OUT.WE ALL KNOW THAT THINGS HAPPEN WITHIN AN ORGANIZATION BUT WE HAVE TO FORGIVE AND GROW FROM THINGS AND MOVE ON.NO ONE IS PERFECT;NO SITUATION IS GOING TO BE PERFECT.IT APPEARS THAT DEKALB COUNTY NEEDS TO RELLY LOOK MORE INTO SITUATIONS INVOLVING THESE RETARDED AND HEARTLESS ADMINSISTRATORS WHO ARE JUST FIRING GOOD COACHES AND PEOPLE INSTEAD OF TRYING TO FIND REASONABLE SOLUTIONS.NOW THE KIDS LOOSE.I THOUGHT IT WAS ALL ABOUT MAKING KIDS BEETERS AS ATHLETES AND YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN.NOT STUPID ASSED EGOS.HOW CAN WE GET BETTER AS PEOPLE WHEN WE CAN’T ALLOW ANY ROM FOR ERROR.ANY HUMAN BEING CAN MAKE A MISTAKE.WAKE UP DEKALB COUNTY BEFORE YOU LOOSE IT ALL.
STEINER
February 7th, 2010
11:05 am
COACH IS IN A CATCH 22 SITUATION…HE CAN’T FIGHT IT WITH A LAWYER, BECAUSE THEN HE WILL NEVER BE HIRED AGAIN, BECAUSE THE FACT HE HIRED LAWYER GETS AROUND TOT HE OTHER ADMINISTRATORS. THE PRINCIPAL IS ALWAYS RIGHT, AND THIS IS SOMETHING IN GEORGIA THAT REALLY NEEDS LOOKING INTO…PRINCIPALS DO WHATEVER THEY WANT TO REALLY GOOD TEACHERS AND COACHES JUST BECAUSE FOR SOME REASON THEY DON’T LIKE THEM…SOMETHING LIKE THIS CAN RUIN A TEACHER/COACHES CAREER….THERE SHOULD BE SOME CHECKS AND BALANCES ON A PRINCIPAL, BUT THERE IS NOT AND A SORRY ONE (AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM OUT THERE WITH THEIR DOCTORATE DEGREES BOUGHT ONLINE) CAN RUN A GOOD COACH/TEACHER OUT OF THE BUSINESS..HAPPENS MANY TIMES IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS ALL ACROSS THE STATE OF GEORGIA EVERY YEAR….
Kennesaw
February 7th, 2010
11:10 am
In my 40 plus years of watching high school sports I have found
1. To win a state title you have to be both lucky AND great. My favorite was Valdosta over Clarke Central 1992 (I think). Best football game I ever saw and a real shame 100 kids had to leave that field as “losers”.
2. To have players sign D-1 scholarships requires very little (if any) effort on a coach’s part. Ask any college recruiter.
3. To me, the sign of a great coaching staff (IE Stephenson) is how many of their less than D-1 players they can inspire and secure opportunities to continue their education and playing careers. The number of less gifted players that advance to D-2, D-3, Juco is a better barometer (in my opinion).
4. Kids and their parents want to play for coaches who can help them get where they want to go!
REGARDLESS OF THE SPORT. Right or wrong, see how many kids transfer into the Stephenson district over the next few years. In my area it’s Wheeler basketball and a number of Cobb schools for baseball.
5. If all a coach can hang his hat on are the number of his trophies and D-1 signees then he has more than likely forgotten (or ignored) the reason he got into coaching in the first place.
6. I’m not judging. 25 years in the public school system can really beat you down I’m sure.
My hat’s off to coach Gartrell, his staff and booster club at Stephenson HS for traveling the extra mile for ALL their kids. Keep striving for that state title and settling for sending 15-20 players to college football if you fall short.
morgan
February 7th, 2010
11:21 am
dr.harris is a dumb ass!! we love you coach youngblood!!!
Really people, think before you speak
February 7th, 2010
3:55 pm
**.Dr. Harris has spent the last year and a half trying to overcome the aftermath of Stacy Stepney’s blind loyalty to the worst of the so-called teachers at that school – if you went/go there-THINK ABOUT IT!
** He also had to deal with the county’s last minute DUMPING of AYP students to the school in his first few days.on the job. That is why our school has gone down hill.
**The new teachers he has hired, for the most part, are really helping the school get better! Youngblood was an exception, he is a very immature goon who will hopefully take this lesson and improve in his next job.
**We desperately need to support our principal and work WITH him. The DeKalb County School System is full of idiots and we WILL go downhill with whoever they would send us next so please, please SHUT UP AND WORK WITH HIM!!!!!
As far as his ego – really people – what kind of person wants to be a principal If you don’t have a big ego, you just can’t do that job. Stepney has a big ego as well and still uses it to control things from her county position.
DHS Student
February 7th, 2010
6:22 pm
I’m not a player, but I am a student at Dunwoody. And from what I’ve heard, it’s probably a good thing Youngblood left. Players were quitting left and right because everyone hated him so much.
That’s not to say that half the kids at Dunwoody aren’t smarter than Dr. Harris, but still…
In this case, I want both of them gone. Just please give me someone who can run a school or football program and do it well.
suzy
February 7th, 2010
8:19 pm
youngblood sucks. i hate him
rerit
February 7th, 2010
10:34 pm
ok i u notice i bet all the people who hate coach youngblood are the ones who didnt get any pt (playing time). stop being pussies and compete dam
Hamilton
February 8th, 2010
8:16 am
One comment from a DHS player rang a bell with me. I watched the DHS vs Pius playoff game, and Youngblood definitely stood out in my memory for one thing: he spent two first half timeouts to complain to the refs about the way our quarterback addressed the center prior to the snap. He was pleading for an illegal motion penalty. This did not seem like mature coaching at all. Definitely a head scratcher.
dunwoody dad
February 8th, 2010
11:26 am
Bottom line: Harris and Youngblood are both black men with huge entitlement egos. Neither of them are qualified for the positions they hold (held) and should be removed from the school system. With all of the chatter about the coach’s poor skills on the football field, can you imagine his classroom? Hopefully he is a P.E. teacher!!! I attended many of the football games over the past four years and Youngblood’s program was light years worse that Teter’s. He played a quarterback who couldn’t throw (probably because his brother was a star at Dunwoody and his father was tight with Youngblood) and then put a freshman at the position who is so terribly underqualified that the Wildcats are in serious trouble if they don’t get rid of Harris, find a top-notch coach and a quarterback in the next seven months–highly unlikely. Unfortunately, a few of the sports teams at DHS are still a popularity contest and many great athletes have chosen not to participate because the coaches and their staff reward the players and parents who have lined their pockets with cash for extra coaching, lessons, travel teams, etc. during the offseason. It has been difficule for Dr. Harris to follow a legend, Stacy Stepney, because she was loved by staff, parents and students alike. She was very fair and kept the kids and community in mind. Everybody knew Stacy and loved her. I bet most parents couldn’t point out Dr. Harris in a lineup. He is attempting to run DHS in the ground by treating it like the last hell hole he was in charge of. Thank God my son is done this May with DeKalb County. Prediction: Once known as the premier school system in the state of Georgia during the 60’s’, 70’s and most of the 80’s, it began its decline in 1989-90 and thirty years later in 2020, the only thing that will prosper is the private schools on the Northside of Atlanta.
ga_boi
February 8th, 2010
4:16 pm
To dunwoody dad -stacy stepney was definitely not a legend. She was not fair to all of the kids. Also, youngblood was a math teacher.
Nothing to do wih you
February 9th, 2010
12:53 am
Dr. harris is the problem here. He always has to be in control and thinks he can do better as a football coach. Well if you can Dr. Harris please do because you absolutely suck as a pincipal. Get out of Dunwoody and go back to teaching Alternative school. Dunwoody isnt for you.
DunwoodydadII
February 9th, 2010
9:21 am
Hey dunwoody dad for you to call out a player and make the accusations that he played only because of his brother was a star player you are not much of a dad at all. That kid played because was was all they had going into the season and he was the best athlete. Oh perhaps your son was a QB and just could not compete for the starting job or even playing time. As for the the freshman he payed his dues and earned his right to play and he did play like a freshman but that’s okay you live and your learn. Again for you to throw out such strong accusations and being so critical of young men proves to all you are not much of a dad at all you are a “PUNK”.
Decatur 4 Life
February 9th, 2010
10:04 am
ex DHS teacher
All of this in one season!! I don’t buy it, sounds like nobody really liked him so he was out of there in their minds. Too much is based on feelings, the principal hired this coach so after one season I don’t buy him not liking how things were going so soon. He made a mistake in hiring him bottom line, that’s what it seems like. Everything else was just him trying to find grounds to get rid of him. As for the players they were just used to the practices of their former coach. Who cares if the new coach wanted to run the show himself, maybe a little selfish but he is the head coach. Blame is going to fall on him anyway so maybe he wanted to take care of it himself, kids will complain about anything that they can’t have their way with. If this guy was winning more it wouldn’t have mattered, at some point parents should understand that it’s not easy picking up where someone left off. I haven’t heard anybody say anything about the coach that left, maybe things weren’t left in a good position to be transitioned. It’s easy for the players and parents to blame a guy just getting into the program.
Decatur 4 Life
February 9th, 2010
10:13 am
Was that the reason Dunwoody loss the game? No St. Pius just had a better team
Decatur 4 Life
February 9th, 2010
10:52 am
To all the Dunwoody parents:
Please stop your complaining, even the parents of old stop talking about how good the school used to be. Nobody else in Dekalb wants to hear your sob story, you seriously can complain about discipline problems and kids being bussed to your school when that’s been going on for years. Those kids being bussed in didn’t matter when they were winning state titles in basketball and baseball, now it’s a problem because nobody’s winning and the kids are getting worse. Welcome to the pain of the schools on the south end of the county, we’ve been dealing with that stuff for years. Our schools have been a dumping ground for the problem students that can’t get into any other school in the county for years. Now, how hard do you think we have to work for our schools to make AYP? The reason you say the county has gone down we’ve been saying forever, good to see it’s finally making it’s way to the north end of the county it’s about time.
Decatur 4 Life
February 9th, 2010
11:09 am
Drago
Lol, you are hilarious. The new Clayton, man please Dekalb could never be compared to Clayton. One day you people will realize no other county has to deal with what Dekalb is dealing with. There are more residents in Dekalb county than a few New England states. With more students come more problems plus we still have our accredititation!!!!
Tom
February 9th, 2010
12:00 pm
I’m a student at Dunwoody and I hate this decision. Coach Youngblood is a good coach that knows what he’s talking about and many students look up to him, honestly, we lost a lot of talent from last year and didn’t have a lot this year and had we had Youngblood last year with the talent present last year we would have won state and maybe more. Dr. Harris has brought a lot of changes to Dunwoody that hasn’t moved us forward in fields that actually matter.. He’s more worried about the clothes and shoes we wear than our academic success. While first impressions and dressing for success are important, I think he just likes being able to control us as a student body. In my opinion he has a large ego and maybe Napoleon Complex as he’s pretty short. I believe we need a new principle and the same football coach and mentor. Not the other way around. Team Youngblood.
I285
February 9th, 2010
12:09 pm
Dunwoody Dad: You are clueless about the quarterback situation and your comments are way out of line. The starting quarterback last season was a sophomore and had a decent arm. He also happens to be a terrific athlete who could take it to the house on any play with his running ability. QB may not be his best position, but he did a good job and I hope the coaches next year figure out a way to get him the ball at another position. I doubt that his dad (a class act himself) had anything to do with his playing. As for the freshmen QB being “terribly underqualified” there is no basis to that comment. As a freshman, he led the JV team to an undefeated season and the varsity team to a victory in the first round playoff game. In my book, that is pretty good for a freshman
nysouth
February 9th, 2010
3:24 pm
Buzz…Bracco is now the head basketball coach at South Gwinnett. It had nothing to do with Dr. Harris or Dunwoody High School. It was more money, better facilities and a larger pool of athletes.
real champions
February 9th, 2010
10:55 pm
As a former player and member of the state championship team of 93 ..this coach younblood sound like another championship caliber coach…coach kelly did the same thing ..if u wanted to play it was mandatory to lift weights ..if u wanted more pt you had to have your grades and atittudes in order so running after practice is nothing new to complain about. to the ‘DHS player’ who left and earlier blog (complaint) quit your bitchin suck it up and be a football player that is the reason we won our region 3 straight yrs and THE ONLY STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!! in the school’s history…coach youngblood sound like a good guy and even though I don’t know I will support him and hopes he finds a a place and produce champion without anyone ego trippin…DHS needs winners but right now as long as u have this principal it will never happen…’we got that wildcat pride good god yes wheewww’….
dunwoody dad
February 10th, 2010
10:51 am
Nothing against QB King, but his arm and throwing technique are not even at a Pop Warner level. I agree, put him at a different position, this move will allow him to use his athleticism and contribute to the team’s successful running game. As for the fool talking about the problems in South DeKalb, it is not due to busing, rather the fact it has become Atlanta’s largest population area for blacks and a few other ethnic groups. The parents and families who care about their children and education have always sought to send them to the North DeKalb area schools. Over the past 12 years, our family has embraced the concept and our child has many lasting friendships due to Dekalb’s segregation policies. It has certainly taught him how to socialize with the world, unlike all of the “lilly white” private schools we could have sent him to.
DHS Parent
February 10th, 2010
12:57 pm
You don’t hear any of the footabll parents or players saying they are upset with the decision to fire Coach Youngblood. Youngblood is a one man show and would not let any of the coaches do their job. If Youngblood stayed we woudl have lost the majority of our coaching staff. He was hated by the referees which caused an unfair disadvantage walking onto the field even before the first kickoff. He did nothing to recruit for these senior boys that need scholarships. His idea of teaching math is passing out worksheets and wandering around the halls. Our 20 something yearold coach needs a little growing up and more coaching experience before he is ready for a head coaching job. I am sure Dr. Harris has learned a lot from this bad hire.
Old CHS Student
February 10th, 2010
2:11 pm
Well, I can’t really talk about Dunwoody but I was very involved in the football program while Coach Youngblood was at Chattahoochee. I know that mostly all of the players loved him. Yes, EVERY coach gets riled up, pissed off, and excited. Good coaches are like that. Now as for the whole homcoming incident, the same thing happened at Chattahoochee. We were in a close game, the players that were nominated did not go out during the halftime stuff, actually one of our football players won homecoming king. He didn’t even know it until he came out of the locker room after the coaches spoke. He took a few pictures for about a minute and then was focused on the game. A serious football player would do the same (which he was). The principal should have had enough respect for Coach Youngblood and maybe make a compromise. Don’t worry Coach Youngblood! You will find somewhere soon! Sorry you had to go through all of this crap!
Old CHS Student
February 10th, 2010
2:13 pm
O ya, and the whole thing about not wanting to work out, your a pansy. Maybe working out will do something for ya, maybe you will actually see the field if you worked out a bit. If you don’t want too then what are you doing on a football team? You must be the kicker.
Who Cares?
February 10th, 2010
3:56 pm
I see you doctor Harris!!! but what dunwoody really needs is to bring back the big teet man!!!! thats James teter for all you lames who dont know
Freddy Falcom
February 14th, 2010
12:43 am
ne–o v negr= who cares
rerit
February 23rd, 2010
8:13 pm
all im saying is that a lot of talk is that players are leaving and quick maybe he should have considered that
Keep It Real
March 6th, 2010
7:51 pm
Yes, Dr. Harris has an Ego, but don’t we all. His Ego is healthy most times and like all humans, he must strive daily to make sure to keep it in check. However, false claims of a sexual harassment suit against Dr. Harris is truly inflammatory and totally false. The real reason Mr. Youngblood was “fired” is because he had an alleged inappropriate relationship with a female teacher at Dunwoody High School. The entire school knew about the alleged relationship and it eventually made its way to Dr. Harris, who by (State)law had to address the situation based on Georgia’s Code of Ethics for Educators. Mr. Youngblood who is married with children, unfortunately brought upon his own demise as a football coach at DHS. You can beat up on Dr. Harris on this blog if you want, but he is only showing class by taking hits for Mr. Youngblood’s alleged infidelity to his family. We support you Dr. Harris. Remain focused on academic rigor and moving students towards excellence!
Let’s talk Dunwoody football: The ex-head coach, the new head coach, and future of the program | Prep Zone: AJC High School Sports
March 18th, 2010
5:47 am
[...] At the time, school officials declined comment, and Youngblood’s point of view got a huge reaction from the AJC’s readers. [...]
Burke County Class of 1992
April 30th, 2010
12:37 am
Burke County is glad to welcome back Michael! This is where it started and this is where he should have been all along. Your gigantic mistake is a wonderful gain for us. He is a great guy and he will make a great addition to the staff. So while he may have hired an attorney it did not stop him from getting hired. Thank you, Dunwoody, for allowing him the opportunity to come home!!!
FLCOACH
May 3rd, 2010
12:27 am
Harris should have called the head coach outside from the players then inform the coach that he needed the players. Not coming in and telling the players to go. It’s crappy for a principal to wait until spring practice to let go of a coach who he had a problem with a few months prior. Both were wrong in some sorts but the principal was really wrong on how he fired him. He will land somewhere quick.
Keep It Real
June 11th, 2010
8:05 pm
Dunwoody High School made AYP this year! I’ll take academic rigor all day, everyday. Who cares about the principal being arrogant. He’s effective. Now what!
GBAby
August 29th, 2010
12:22 am
Heres how it went down, I played for the team and was there.Harris did enter the lockeroom. The reason Youngblood was fired is because he mistreated the players on the team. You are not allowed to hit the players you can only coach them. Both men are black so thee is no race issue. Dr. Harris is also wrong because he dealt with the situation too lightly. Yes he is a maniacal short person and shouldbe fired as well. But two wrongs dont make a right and both deserve to be fired because the are incompotent jackasses trying to throw their weight around. There are no sides in this argument there is only disappointment in both men. The ones that lose are the people who have to deal with Dr.Harris. The studets and faculty of Dunwoody High School.
What Now
September 6th, 2010
8:23 pm
Where is Dunwoody Football now without Coach Youngblood. You hired a guy who is suppose to be an offensive genius and he sucks. Had one great year at Chamblee and because he is from Marist he can coach! Dunwoody will suffer until they let a real coach come in and do what needs to be done in order to make it successful. Parents complain about everything around the school when their child is not benifitting from the school. The principal was let go and yall let one of the best coaches in the state of georgia go! The mistake here is Harris and his craziness! Hopefully everyone in Dunwoody has learn their lesson and do reaserch before hiring a bum like harris and when we do get a good coach to support him. Because it is not Showefty!