UPDATED BREAKING: Head football coach Josh Niblett is stepping down at Gainesville, to coach with Deion Sanders at Colorado

It was a whirlwind season for what turned out to be Niblett’s final year at Gainesville as the school has announced that the coach will be stepping down as the head football coach of the Red Elephants to pursue an opportunity at the collegiate level. And according to BuffaloesWire, Niblett is heading to Boulder, Colorado to coach at the University of Colorado under head coach Deion Sanders.

"Coach Niblett's impact on our program, our school, and our community over the last four years cannot be overstated," stated Gainesville Athletic Director Adam Lindsey in a press release. "He brought a championship culture and a tireless work ethic every single day. While we are sad to see him go, we are incredibly grateful for the foundation he has built and wish him and his family nothing but the best as they begin this next chapter."

Niblett took over the program in 2022 and immediately led the Red Elephants to a state championship appearance that year, while coaching Gainesville to its first region title – 8-6A – since 2013. Gainesville lost to Langston Hughes that season 35-28 in the championship game.

In 2023, the team earned another region title and made a quarterfinals appearance before losing to Woodward 20-17. A first-round exit in 2024 left the team wanting more, which led to this season.

The team was 8-2 entering the playoffs after losses to Carrolton 43-21 and Roswell 37-35 in the Region 7-5A title game. Gainesville handled Dunwoody 48-3 in the first round before facing Brunswick on the road.

The Red Elephants ultimately enjoyed a 42-0 victory against the Pirates, but a fight in the second half led to suspensions, appeals, courtroom appearances and a delay from November 21, the date of its second-round contest, to Dec. 5, when the team played the quarterfinals matchup against Hughes, which Gainesville won 40-32.

Before coming to Georgia, Niblett was a star in the state of Alabama as a player and head coach, hailing from Demopolis Academy and playing for the University of Alabama from 1993-1995.

Niblett took over the famed Hoover program in 2008, taking over after Rush Propst’s resignation. The team was featured in the early 2000’s television program ‘Two-A-Days’, which was coached by Propst at the time.  Niblett led Hoover to titles in 2009 and again in 2012 while being named Alabama Sports Writers Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2011.

In the meantime, Gainesville's search for its next head football coach starts now.