Dacula High football coach Kevin Maloof retires because of health reasons
Kevin Maloof, who has been Dacula High’s football coach since 1991, told his players at Tuesday’s practice that he was retiring after this season due to health reasons.
“Yes, it’s true,” Maloof, 54, told the AJC. “I have health issues. I had my prostate removed in late May. At that time, I felt like the time frame was good [to recover in time to coach] this season. However, I have not been able to come back and work 80-hour weeks like I need to do to make my kids successful.
“I’m very tired right now. I think it’s in the best interests of Dacula High School to step down. I’ve got a great group of seniors that I’m going to finish out with.”
Dacula is 4-3 overall this season, and tied with Parkview at 3-2 for fourth place in Region 8-AAAAA. Maloof’s best year at the Gwinnett school was 1996 when he led Dacula to an undefeated regular season, finishing 12-1 after losing in the state quarterfinals.
“After the surgery, I’ve not responded to the workload like I thought I would,” Maloof said. “I thought I would be doing better and I’m not. Now it’s time to turn everything over to a younger, more energetic guy.”
Maloof said Tuesday felt like the perfect time to inform his team.
“It was tough to do … the toughest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life,” he said. “I love my kids, and I have tremendous respect for any kid that plays the game. You develop relationships with them, and I’m going to miss that.”
Maloof said he was diagnosed with prostate cancer last February. He said his most recent medical tests indicated that all the cancer was removed during the surgery.
“My wife has been my biggest supporter through this whole thing, and I’m going to take a year off to spend lots of time with her,” Maloof said.
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35 comments Add your comment
Dacula
October 19th, 2010
8:22 pm
This is a tremendous loss for the Dacula community. Coach Maloof is one of the most underrated coaches in the state. He gets as much out of his kids as anybody. Coach Maloof’s best year was 2005 when Dacula went to the Class AAAAA semi-finals and had a 12-2 record. 7 trips to the quarterfinals and 1 trip to the semifinals, 6 region championships and only 3 losing seasons in 20 years. All this while Dacula went from a class A school to a class AAAAA school in 6 years. Dacula won a region titles in 4 different classifications under Coach Maloof. Not many schools can say that.
Brian
October 19th, 2010
8:55 pm
Kudos to Maloof! I have always heard good things about him as a coach, but foremost as a person. May you go out with honor and peace of mind. My thoughts and prayers are with you, your family, and your “kids”.
kc
October 19th, 2010
9:26 pm
Coach, your father would have been proud of you and your teams. Best of luck.
Hit A Single
October 19th, 2010
9:26 pm
Coach – Best of luck and I hope you rebound and get your strength back and just think about all the strength you have given to all the kids you have coached since 1991. Best of luck!
Don KeBallz
October 19th, 2010
9:31 pm
Rod Dollar is your man !!! Dacula would be lucky to have him. Good luck Coach Maloof !
Steve
October 19th, 2010
9:38 pm
Good luck coach.
shannon
October 19th, 2010
9:44 pm
Wow Good luck Coach on your post Football life.. You were a great Coach..Thinkin of the great players you coached, Terry Harvey,Carlos Tanner,The Iron Bros.. Great Teams over the years..Gwinnett’s Best Kept secret..
Dawgfan
October 19th, 2010
9:46 pm
And before Dacula he was at Meadowcreek High School where he built a program and took it to state quarter finals there. I don’t think Meadowcreek had any winning seasons after he left. Good Luck Coach!
Dacula
October 19th, 2010
9:49 pm
Yeah, the Meadowcreek stuff might have been his greatest accomplishments. They have been a doormat ever since he left. I’m afraid the same might happen to Dacula in a few years.
steven Bouye
October 19th, 2010
9:49 pm
may GOD bliss you,and your family.Coach you are the best.If your have not meet this man, this man have a lot of class
outspoken1
October 19th, 2010
9:50 pm
I wish our Politicians had Mr Maloof since of timing and honesty. He is leaving for the good of the school and kids.
Politicians never seem to know when there time is up and continue to live their self serving lives at our expense.
tom fannon
October 19th, 2010
9:57 pm
Kevin…You are a great role model and have been a true inspiration to a ton of kids in and around the Atlanta area for many years. You are a TRUE LEADER and you will be missed amongest the Gwinnett football community. We need more role models like you! We were teammates at OLA and St. Pius and you gave 110% on a daily basis! The example’s that you set for all the athlete’s that you coached is well above more than winning a state championship in my eye’s. Stay healthy and hope to see you again soon! God bless you, your wife and all your family!…
Garry Owen
October 19th, 2010
10:15 pm
Good luck Coach. I hope you have a long and happy retirement. You and your family deserve the time together.
My Two Cents
October 19th, 2010
10:41 pm
Thank you for your time and efforts in the high school sports communities. May God speed your recovery so that you can enjoy your time with your wife and family. You have been an inspiration and wonderful role model to your students. Good luck!
slydog
October 19th, 2010
10:45 pm
God Bless you Coach Maloof
glnhg kgh
October 19th, 2010
11:01 pm
many things
Seth
October 19th, 2010
11:21 pm
Thanks for everything coach, I learned alot from you about being a leader on and off the field. The 2009-2010 football season will never leave my life cause what we all went through and to over come to the loss of your father. You will always be in my thoughts and prays coach forever. Stay strong and keep your head held high. Always reamber coach “we can do this” and know you can do anything. Good luck and thanks for everything you have done for dacula football and the community.
Dan
October 19th, 2010
11:31 pm
Best wishes coach Maloof. My four years on your teams were some of the best years of my life. While we were there we felt as if you cared more about us as young men than football players. You will be missed but not forgotten. Side note, he didn’t coach Tanner and Harvey. Mike Strickland did.
MikeB
October 19th, 2010
11:42 pm
Good luck coach….. As someone who coached from accross the gridiron against you, I always thought you were one of the classier coaches in our division. The kids you coach(ed) are/were lucky athletes. May they go on to represent you and the town of Dacula as you would want them too, for years to come.
Gwinnett Fan
October 20th, 2010
1:18 am
Coach Maloof is going to be missed by the high school football community. He is a tremendous football coach and a good man. He has always done more with less than any coach in the county. Besides all the wins, has made his players better citizens and better men. It is a legacy started by his father and continued in his coaching style.
I hope you feel better soon.
DuluthHigh
October 20th, 2010
6:45 am
May God bless you and your family Coach. I’m one of many from your days back at Duluth High. Many don’t remember what an incredible baseball coach you were. We were lucky to have such a fantastic teacher and coach that made us better individuals today. Coach, I hope you know that changed the lives of many students in Gwinnett County.
MC Booster
October 20th, 2010
7:29 am
Good luck and best wishes coach enjoy that time with your wife and family.
Traci
October 20th, 2010
7:29 am
Thanks Coach! While your decision to step down is very difficult, in the process you have taught an even bigger LIFE LESSON: Sometimes in life you dont get everything you want, but whatever hand life deals you – handle it with grace and dignity.
Good Luck in all that comes your way Coach!
moops
October 20th, 2010
7:49 am
Coach – Thanks for all you’ve done for me and the community. It was an honor to play for you. I’ll never forget the opportunities you gave me. Best of luck in the future.
Mic Wat
October 20th, 2010
7:52 am
God bless you and your family coach!
Norcross
October 20th, 2010
7:56 am
Never met Kevin, but seeing as he’s Keith Maloof’s brother, I can totally see why there’s so many good things to say about the Maloof’s.
Duluth High
October 20th, 2010
8:00 am
Coach Maloof served as an assistant at Duluth High School under my dad. What a great coach and a great teacher. You could see at a very early age that he was going to be a great head coach. He won at Meadowcreek and that is saying something. He is truly a man of great character and integrity. I hope that God blesses the Maloof family.
Steve
October 20th, 2010
8:18 am
The Collins Hill Community wishes Coach Maloof the best.
Recruiter
October 20th, 2010
8:40 am
That’s a touch thing to go through, Coach Maloof……I know, I was there about the same time you were. Never doubt yourself, you did the right thing by having surgery and I’m glad everything is looking good…..
Richard Dawson
October 20th, 2010
9:34 am
Never heard of Coach Maloof until this article, but the comments sent chills. It’s great to see coaches and leaders like this impacting our kids. Best wishes, Coach, from Cobb County.
Observer
October 20th, 2010
11:39 am
Maybe now the other athletic departments at Dacula can prosper. There has been a whole lot of talent leave the school because of inadequate coaches. No one seems to care because it’s always football, football, and more football.
daculagrad
October 20th, 2010
12:57 pm
it’s hard to imagine dacula football without coach.
thank you for everything you’ve done for not just our football team but our school.
you will be so missed.
Falcon
October 20th, 2010
10:02 pm
I just love how people go on these posts and pretend to be other people and make stupid comments!!!!!!
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