Ed Dudley: One of the great high school coaches

High School football in Georgia is something that we cherish. I played at Walton High School and my coach was Ed Dudley. After I graduated in 2000, I would go back from time-to-time and see how he and the football team was doing. Every time I would go back. I said to myself “He is going to be here until he wins a state title and I can see him retiring here at Walton.”


Well, I was wrong about that statement as he announced on Thursday that he is leaving Walton to be the Head Football coach for Ware County down in Waycross. I’ll be honest, I was caught off guard because I don’t’ think anybody from the High School thought that he would be looking at other places to coach. He said on Thursday that it was a tough decision and that he loves the small town football atmosphere and is excited about the opportunity.


I think it’s safe to say that the people from Ware County did their research because what Coach Dudley did at Walton was nothing but amazing. Before he arrived at Walton in 1995, Walton only claimed one region title. During his tenure, he had won the region crown in 1999 (which I was a member of), 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2008. He has led the 2004 and 2007 Raiders to the state semifinals and has coached 10 first-team All-State players. So he is leaving the program in better shape then what Robbie Robertson did after leaving in 1994.


Dudley is going down to Ware County who is replacing interim coach John Stephens. Stephens was replacing longtime coach Dan Ragle who led the Gators to a state title appearance in 2007 losing to Northside-Warner Robins. Dudley will come into the program that is expected to take that next step and win the state title. Based on the other teams in the region such as Brunswick and Glynn Academy, he should make the playoffs every year if the players respond to him.


So why did he leave? I may not be the right person to ask question, but based on the story in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Friday, It probably came down to a change of scenery. After living in urban East Cobb for 14 years, rural South Georgia sounded nice to him and also the fact that Ware County football is the only team that the community can rally around, not like Walton where Lassiter, Pope and Wheeler are within a 10-mile radius. I know that the faculty, staff, students and alumni are disappointed that he is leaving, but he is going on to do bigger and better things. Not only he was a good coach, he was a great teacher and was like a father figure to most of his players. The only thing that I can say is thank you coach for what you’ve done for Walton over the last 14 years and good luck to you in Waycross. I hope you do get that state title that you have been chasing for so long.