Terrell County’s Jack Harris retires, takes over Terrell Academy football

DAWSON — Jack Harris is coming full circle.
The longtime football coach is returning to Terrell Academy — the place where his coaching career began nearly four decades ago. After announcing his retirement from Terrell County High School at the end of this school year, Harris will once again take the reins at Terrell Academy, where he spent the first 17 years of his coaching journey.

“Most people don’t get to finish where they started, so I feel blessed to have this opportunity,” Harris said. “I’m ready to get back to coaching football without all the duties of athletic director. Plus, it will be great to go back and end where it all started.”

Harris first joined Terrell Academy as an assistant coach in 1985, where he built a foundation that would define his career. After nearly two decades with the Eagles, he moved on to become the head coach at Southland Academy, where he led the program for seven seasons.

In 2019, Harris took over at Terrell County High School, guiding the Greenwave to three straight playoff appearances. His leadership earned him the honor of Region 1A Athletic Director of the Year in 2021.

Now, after a successful tenure at Terrell County, Harris is heading back to familiar ground — a decision that feels both nostalgic and fitting.

“I’ve known Coach Harris for decades, and I’m certain he will be a major asset to Terrell Academy,” said Terrell Academy headmaster Bill Murdock, who will be stepping down as head football coach after 20 years at the helm. Murdock, who moved to Dawson from Southwest Georgia Academy two decades ago, will continue to serve as the school’s headmaster.

“I still love working with the kids and love the game, but it’s just gotten to be too time-consuming to try and maintain both roles,” Murdock said. “The recruiting aspect has gotten way out of hand, so we are going to focus on the kids we have. Having Coach Harris on board will help us do that.”

Harris will take on multiple roles at Terrell Academy, including head football coach, weightlifting instructor, and a position in school administration. As he prepares to come back to the place where it all began, Harris is grateful for the chance to reconnect with his roots while doing what he loves.

“Going back to Terrell Academy just feels right,” Harris said. “It’s where I started, and it’s where I want to finish.”