ALBANY, GA - Dougherty High Head Football Coach Johnny Gilbert has been named as the district’s new Student Support Services Coordinator, following approval by the Dougherty County Board of Education on Monday.
In his new role, Gilbert will spearhead character development programs at the elementary level, the district’s focus on restorative practices and will be responsible for developing the new “Men Under Construction” mentoring program aimed at the district’s male students in elementary and middle school.
Dougherty Principal Jerry Sanders recommended Uyl Joyner be named interim head football coach. Joyner is no stranger to football or Dougherty High. He has a wide range of experience on the football field, including having led the 1998 Dougherty High football team to a state championship as its starting quarterback, and having served as offensive coordinator for the Carver High School team that finished as state runner-up in 2021.
While it’s not an ideal time to make a coaching change, Sanders, Gilbert and Joyner are confident that the current coaching staff can continue the efforts of the program which had found success in recent years under Gilbert’s leadership.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to continue to impact the lives of our students with meaningful programming. Coach Joyner has played an integral role on the coaching staff, and I’m confident that the Trojan football program will be in great hands under his leadership. Coaches are always trying to get their team to the next level and Joyner has the pedigree to do just that having won a championship as a student-athlete and gone to the championship game as a coach,” Gilbert said.
“This is a dream come true to return to DCHS as the head coach. The way my family and I feel about the school, and the Eastside - I’m excited!” Joyner said. “Coach GIlbert is leaving the program on an upswing, and I hope we can take it even higher.”
Principal Jerry Sanders said that while it's bittersweet to see Coach Gilbert leave Dougherty, this move is a good one for the district, and that he has every confidence in Coach Joyner to lead the Trojan football team.
“I truly believe this transition will be a smooth one and will help continue to foster the Trojan Pride culture of Dougherty High School. With this being the 25th anniversary of Coach Joyner’s high school team winning the state championship, that will also serve as a boost to morale for the team. Coach Gilbert was a phenomenal coach and I’m excited to see him in his new role with the district. He’s handing the program over in great shape and allowing Joyner to live out one his dreams of returning to DCHS as head coach.”
Superintendent Kenneth Dyer said the move is a good one for students and families in the district.
“While Coach Gilbert has quite the reputation on the field, he is equally known for the time and energy he has spent through the years mentoring the young men who have fallen under his care,” Dyer said. “He has a servant’s heart and has shown repeatedly his desire to help shape our boys into responsible young men. Over the past several years, he has done so through the game of football. Now he has the opportunity to do so on a larger scale, impacting elementary and middle school students throughout our school system.”