Marco Kirk out as Terrell County football coach

DAWSON — After just one difficult season trying to rebuild the Terrell County football program, Marco Kirk is moving on.

Kirk announced this week he is stepping down as Greenwave head coach and teacher and will join Dean Fabrizio’s staff at Lee County, one of Georgia’s premier high school football programs.

“The standard is the standard,” Kirk said when contacted about the move.

Kirk took over the Greenwave program last year following the retirement of veteran Terrell County coach Jack Harris, who left to become head coach at Terrell Academy. Kirk inherited a difficult situation as Terrell County continued battling low roster numbers and the challenges of competing against demanding schedules in South Georgia football.

The Greenwave finished 1-9 during Kirk’s lone season.

Despite the struggles on the field, Kirk expressed gratitude toward the players and community in a Facebook post announcing his departure.

“Unfortunately, I will not be returning as your head football coach and teacher,” Kirk wrote. “The past year has provided me with profound growth and unforgettable experiences.”

“To each player, I express my deepest thanks for allowing us to coach and mentor you in the pursuit of excellence,” Kirk added. “You will always hold a special place in my heart.”

Before taking over at Terrell County, Kirk coached at Worth County, where he developed a reputation as an energetic coach and leader.

Now he moves into a vastly different football environment at Lee County, where Fabrizio has built one of the state’s most consistent winning programs. The Trojans have become annual state playoff contenders and remain one of the flagship football programs in South Georgia.

The move also reunites Kirk with a familiar football culture built around high expectations and year-round competition.

Meanwhile, Terrell County once again finds itself searching for stability at one of the area’s most challenging football jobs.

Kirk’s departure means the Greenwave will begin another coaching search just days before summer workouts begin for the 2026 season.