The coaching carousel is making its way around the state in 2025 and Irwin County is no exception as the Indians will have to replace Casey Soliday going into next season.
Soliday announced last Friday that he will be retiring from his post as the Irwin County head football coach as he looks to spend more time with his family.
The former Irwin County coach is a long-time coach in the state of Georgia, having 31 years of experience at various different positions.
Soliday took over head coach responsibilities in 2019 when he became the interim head coach when Buddy Nobles, Irwin’s legendary head coach, was battling cancer. Soliday was promoted to full time head coach the following season after Nobles’ passing and took the Indians to new heights.
In his first full season at the helm, Soliday and the Indians won the 2020 state championship, giving the Indians back-to-back state championship victories in 2019 (under Nobles) and 2020. The remarkable feat that Soliday was able to accomplish in his first season earned the Indians their third state championship in program history.
In their 2020 championship season, the Indians compiled a record of 12-3 after losing their first two games of the season. The season featured two six-game win-streaks including a 27-19 victory over Brooks County in the 2020 Class A Public State Championship. Irwin outscored opponents 151-57 in the postseason including victories over Jenkins County, Wilcox County, Commerce, Metter, and Brooks County.
After the state championship victory in 2020, Soliday spent four more seasons with the program, compiling a 56-16 record during his tenure.
Under Soliday, Irwin County made the postseason every year, including two championship appearances, two semifinal appearances and a quarterfinals appearance in his five seasons leading the program.
NOTES:
BOYS: B.E.S.T. Academy defeated Atlanta International 89-39 giving the Eagles their 17th win of the season. … Southwest-Macon defeated Bleckley County 62-36 as Brandon Ashley led the Patriots with 21 points. … Dodge County defeated East Laurens 70-65 as Tylan Snead scored 31 points in the loss. … Putnam County defeated Social Circle 77-55 as the Redskins’ Derrick White scored 27 points in the loss. …Temple defeated Haralson County 72-33 as the Tigers improved to 19-4 on the season.
GIRLS: Temple defeated Haralson County 63-24 as the Tigers improved to 16-7 on the season. … Banks County defeated Athens Academy 52-33 as the Leopards earned their 18th win of the season. … East Laurens defeated Dodge County 79-59 as the Falcons earned win No. 15 this season. … Washington County defeated Dublin 35-30 to snap a three-game losing streak for the Golden Hawks. … Fannin County defeated Dade County 66-40 as the Rebels improved their record to 21-2 on the season.
SCORE ATLANTA BASKETBALL RANKINGS:
BOYS:
1. Putnam County: TBD
2. Southwest Macon: Friday vs Northeast at 7:30 p.m.
3. Temple: Friday at Model at 7:30 p.m.
4. B.E.S.T. Academy: Today at Mount Paran at 7:30 p.m.
5. Dublin: Friday vs Dodge County at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at Treutlen at 7:30 p.m.
6. Model: Friday vs Temple at 7:30 p.m.
7. East Laurens: Today at Washington County at 7:30 p.m., Friday at Treutlen at 7:30 p.m.
8. Rabun County: Friday vs Athens Academy at 7:30 p.m.
9. Vidalia: Friday vs Woodville-Tompkins at 7:30 p.m.
10. Commerce: Friday at Elbert County at 8:30 p.m.
GIRLS:
1. Elbert County: Friday vs Commerce at 7 p.m.
2. Fannin County: Friday at Christian Heritage at 6 p.m.
3. Central-Macon: Today at Bleckley County at 6 p.m.
4. Model: Friday vs Temple at 6 p.m.
5. Lamar County: TBD
6. East Laurens: Today at Washington County at 6 p.m., Friday at Treutlen at 6 p.m.
7. Heard County: Friday at Bremen at 6 p.m., Saturday vs Haralson County at 3:30 p.m.
8. Banks County: Friday vs Providence Christian at 6 p.m.
9. Temple: Friday at Model at 6 p.m.
10. Washington County: Today vs East Laurens at 6 p.m., Friday vs Jackson County at 6 p.m., Saturday at Dodge County at 1 p.m.
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