Lumpkin County High approved the hire of Shane Williamson as its new football coach during a regularly scheduled meeting Monday, according to its athletic director Nicky Jenkins.

This will be the fourth head coaching position for Coach Williamson. He has served in the same role at Swainsboro High (2002-2008), Toombs County High (2008-2013), and the past three seasons at Forsyth Central High where he led his team to their first winning season in 13 years in 2014. Coach Williamson’s record as a head football coach is 78-71-2 with six trips to the playoffs.

“Coaching at Lumpkin County High is a golden opportunity,” said Williamson. “I like the fact that its a one school county.
“Everyone in town will be wearing the same colors on Friday night.”

With the late hire, Williamson hopes to use this month to break the ice with all the players. He said Monday was the Indians’ first day in the weight room during summer conditioning.

Living 30 minutes away in Cumming, he plans on commuting each day to Dahlonega, until his wife Cynthia and their three children can complete the move.

In addition to his head football coaching experience, Williamson’s 20 years of educational service includes work as an assistant principal, athletic director, head wrestling coach, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, and position coach with stops in Swainsboro, Tift County, Appling County, and Montgomery County.

“We are excited to have such a high quality coach and high character man express interest in our vacancy,” Lumpkin County school superintendent Rob Brown said. We had several excellent candidates, but the interview panel felt that coach Williamson’s experience, demeanor, and long-term plan for Lumpkin County was a perfect match for what our program needs. Coach Williamson has coached at a very high level and taken two programs deep into the playoffs. We hope that he can build on the foundation that is in place here and guide this program to new levels of success.”

Williamson said any decisions on offensive and defensive scheme will be delayed until he gets a good glimpse of his players and feedback on their strengths from his assistant coaches.

Despite region realignment, Lumpkin County will remain in Region 7-AAA next season, along with North Hall, Dawson County, East Hall, Fannin County, Union County and Greater Atlanta Christian.