Update: Price Jones Will Seek Another Head Coaching Job

(Editor's note: Patch had not reached Price Jones for comment when an earlier story ran about his resignation as head football coach at Decatur High. This story has been rewritten and updated to reflect his comments.)

By Bill Banks and Ralph Ellis

Former Decatur High head football coach Price Jones resigned this week and said Friday that he'll seek another head coaching job.

Jones said he'll teach at Decatur High through the end of the year and plans to coach track again.

“In the meantime I plan on pursuing another coaching job, hopefully a head coaching job," he said. "I still have the drive to be a head coach. I’m a competitor and I feel I still have a lot to give.”

Jones said that when he took over the Decatur program four years ago "the program was down and the discipline was down."

"But now it’s time for me to move on. On Tuesday I gave letters of resignation to [principal Lauri McKain and Athletic Director Carter Wilson] thanking them for the opportunity to work at Decatur High, and basically that was it. On Thursday I met with my players for the last time.”

He said, “I resigned because I felt I didn’t have the support of the administration.  I do so very reluctantly because I love these kids to death."

When Jones took over the program in 2008 he inherited a team coming off back-to-back seasons of 2-8 and 3-7. In four years he went 18-23 (.439 winning percentage) including his only winning season of 6-4 in 2010.

The Bulldogs were 4-6 this past season, and Jones is the first to admit his disappointment, particularly over a three-game losing streak in September against South Atlanta, Riverwood and Maynard Jackson, games he felt were winnable. His son Sam, a senior, was a member of the team.

A job opening has been posted on the Georgia High School Association website and applications are already “flooding in,” McKain said.

The deadline to apply is Jan. 6. McKain said a decision on the new coach will be made around February.

Wilson said the school is looking for "somebody who can come in and connect with the players." He said Decatur High has good athletes and a new stadium, which should make it an attractive job.

The Bulldogs played in Region 6-AA, which includes powerhouse Buford. According to ajc.com, “Decatur has been placed in Region 6-AAA for 2012-14 with St. Pius, Cross Keys and Blessed Trinity in its subregion.”

Wilson said the realignment is "practically a misnomer" because Georgia football just went from having five regions to six. The placement of Decatur High is based on enrollment, he said.

Jones, who’ll be 47 in January, has been coaching football since 1987, and has been a head coach in 11 of those years. He also coaches track at Decatur and teaches weight training and physical conditioning classes.

“I wish these kids all the success in the world and have nothing but respect for them,” he said. “All day (Friday) I’ve gotten texts and emails from players, parents and other coaches telling me how upset they are. I’m really gratified by all the kind words."

McKain said Jones deserves credit for running the Decatur High football program when the new stadium was being constructed and “he was running the team out of trailers.”

What kind of coach does Decatur High need?