Daily Dive: Roswell, South Forsyth announce new head coach hires

There were two major head coaching vacancies filled this week with South Forsyth and Roswell introducing their new head coaches. South Forsyth hired James Thomson, South Floridas director of internal scouting, as its football coach Wednesday. Thomson, a Florida native, was a Georgia head coach previously at Tucker in 2021 and Northview from 2017 to 2020. Thomson left Tucker to become head coach at Winter Haven in Florida for the 2022 season. Hes also a former head coach in Florida at Gainesville (2011-12) and DeLand (2013-14). South Forsyth is a Class 6A school. The War Eagles were 17-25 in four seasons under Troy Morris and 2-8 in 2024.

On Friday, Roswell announced the hiring of Jonathan JT Thompson as new head coach. Thompson previously served as Lee Countys offensive coordinator from 2019-2024.

Roswell hit a grand slam by hiring JT, said Dean Fabrizio, Lee Countys head football coach in a statement to ITG Next-Georgia. Coach Thompson is an outstanding coach and person. He has been a big reason for our success here at Lee County.

Under Thompson, Lee Countys offense averaged over 53 points per game. Their total of 745 points for the 2024 season ranks as the seventh-most points in state history.

Roswell athletic director Ben Sutter said that Thompson checked all the boxes for what the program was looking for in its next head coach. Coach Thompson obviously possesses an incredible offensive mind when it comes to the game of football, but what stood out to me was not just the Xs and Os, but what his vision was for the entire program, Sutter said.

Thompson said Roswell was the place he wanted to be both professionally and personally.

This is the first head coaching position I have applied for because I wanted to go to a special place for me from a football standpoint, but for my family too, he said. I wanted to go to a great community that loves its football but also loves its family values, and Roswell is that place. Im honored to be the next head football coach at Roswell.





There have been 52 openings as Georgias 415 football-playing schools this offseason. Twenty-two jobs have been filled.

Offseason openings and hires:

Alpharetta - Jason Kervin (Hired Brian Landis)

Armuchee - Eric Belew

Banneker - Braxton Kelly

Berrien - Ken Eldridge

Brookwood - Philip Jones (Hired Chad Nighbert)

Calvary Day Mark Stroud (Hired Jason Cameron)

Cedar Grove - Roderick Moore (Hired Rich Freeman)

Cedar Shoals - Leroy Ryals

Cedartown - Jamie Abrams

Central Gwinnett - Larry Harold (Hired Terrance Banks)

Chattahoochee County - Bruce Figgins

Commerce - Mark Hollars (Hired Lenny Gregory)

Crisp County Lawrence Smith

Dalton - Kit Carpenter (Hired Chris Prewett)

Dawson County - Sid Maxwell (Hired Jaybo Shaw)

Elbert County - Shannon Jarvis (Hired Andy Dyer)

Emanuel County Institute - Chris Kearson

Etowah - Matt Kemper (Hired Brett Vavra)

Flowery Branch Jason Tester (Hired Michael Perry)

Gordon Central - Lenny Gregory

Greene County - Terrance Banks

Griffin - Clifford Fedd

Grovetown - Cory Barnes

Heritage (Ringgold) - E.K. Slaughter (Hired Jeremy New)

Hughes - Daniel Williams

Josey - Lawrence Pinkney

KIPP Atlanta Collegiate - James Briscoe

Lithia Springs - Corey Jarvis (Hired Ben Arnold)

Loganville - Gene Cathcart/Stephen Smith (Hired Nic Snowden)

Luella - Craig Coleman

Marietta - Richard Morgan (Hired Cameron Duke)

Marion County - Billy Law

Meadowcreek - Todd Wofford (Hired Johnny Burdette)

Mount Paran Christian - Matt Ely

Murray County - Kurt Napier

Norcross - Keith Maloof (Hired Corey Richardson)

Northside-Warner Robins - Ben Bailey (Hired Daniel Williams)

Northview - Scott Schwarzer

Pace Academy - Nick Bach

Parkview - Joe Sturdivant

Pataula Charter - Sam Brown

Pelham - Leonard Guyton

Roswell - Chris Prewett (Hired Jonathan JT Thompson)

Savannah Country Day - Roc Batten (Hired Joey Blackmore)

Schley County - Darren Alford

South Forsyth - Troy Morris (Hired James Thomson)

Southeast Whitfield - Todd Murray

Sprayberry - Brett Vavra

Union County - Michael Perry

Veterans - Josh Ingram (Hired Steve DeVoursney)

Washington Justin Rivers

Westminster Gerry Romberg (Hired Nelson Stewart)