By JIMMY WIGFIELD
Washington County High School coach Johnny Carpenter, who had directed a revival of the Bulldogs’ football program, resigned suddenly on Tuesday with the Bulldogs three days away from a showdown with Clarke County and heading toward the playoffs.
Washington County coach Johnny Carpenter had the Bulldogs in the Class 2A playoffs with their best season since 2016 before resigning Tuesday. (Call News file photo)
WCHS principal Dirk Dykstra confirmed Carpenter’s resignation to the Call News.
“He came in today and resigned,” Dykstra said. “I was actually in the bookkeeper’s office with my assistant principal talking about some deposits. He came in and something had happened that somebody told him about. I’m not sure what it was. He just came in and said that was it.”
Dykstra indicated Carpenter resigned for personal reasons.
“He would have to say the reason why he quit,” Dykstra said.
Carpenter did not return a message asking for comment.
As assistant coach from Carpenter’s staff will be named the interim coach to finish the season, Dykstra said, although he couldn’t confirm his choice because they hadn’t met to discuss the situation as of Tuesday night.
The Bulldogs (5-3 overall and 4-1 in 2A Region 1) are assured of a playoff berth and are enjoying their best season since finishing 6-4 in 2016. Between 2017 and 2023, WCHS was 18-52. The Bulldogs host Clarke County Friday and with a win could throw 2A Region 1 into a three-way tie for first place
Carpenter was the program’s fourth coach in seven years and was 10-19 in his third season in Chatom.
“I knew it would be a big challenge but it was close to home,” Carpenter said last summer. “I’m friends with most of the people here. I wanted to build something special, bring it back to what it once was. I was told it would be impossible to win there for the next several years. But the kids needed someone who cared about them. … I had to develop a relationship with them and earn their trust. It took time for them to trust me.”
Dykstra said Carpenter’s decision stunned the school.
“There’s a lot of people that were surprised,” he said. “I’m sure there’s always a few people that think somebody isn’t going to make the season but I think the majority of the people were pretty confident he was going to make the season.”
