BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Andrew Thomas, the former Union County High School head football coach who was fired in May, is the new head coach at Cross City’s Dixie County High School.
Thomas graduated from Dixie in 1995. It was one of the schools at which he served as an assistant coach before landing his first head coaching job at Trenton High School.
Dixie is coming off a 1-9 season — its third losing season in the past five years.
If someone can get the Bears on the right track consistently, it would be Thomas, based on his resume. He has a career record of 132-37 in 14 seasons, with Union winning at least eight games in each of his five seasons there.
Thomas, who was Baker County’s defensive coordinator this past season, won two state championships during his five years at Trenton, compiling a 60-6 record. Trenton won 13 postseason games under Thomas after having just 10 all time prior to his arrival.
After two-year stints as the head coach at T.R. Miller High School (Brewton, Alabama) and Ocala’s Trinity Catholic in which he went 13-8 and 13-9, respectively, Thomas was hired at Union.
The Tigers won 77 percent of their games during Thomas’ five seasons, going 46-14. Union had a postseason record of 10-5 under Thomas, advancing to at least the regional finals every season.
Thomas guided the Tigers to a 10-2 record and a state semifinal appearance in his final season.
Union Superintendent of Schools Mike Ripplinger announced the firing of Thomas in a media statement that read: “In the best interest of the Union County High School football program — both in the immediate and long-term future — the decision was made to part ways with Head Coach Andrew Thomas. Union County is appreciative of the success Coach Thomas had during his tenure, and may he continue to have a successful career.”
