PREP FOOTBALL: WCPS officials close to making decision on Goldsboro football vacancy

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on May 12, 2017 10:03 AM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

Goldsboro has completed the first two phases in its search for a new head varsity football coach.

Phase three is on hold.

A total of 36 applications were received in March. The list was narrowed to eight finalists, who were interviewed on April 25.

Of those eight, three were selected as a finalist to become the program's seventh head coach since 1959. Those applicants were submitted to Dr. Michael Dunsmore, superintendent of Wayne County Public Schools.

The candidates' names were not released.

When contacted Thursday morning, a WCPS representative said the decision is now in Dr. Dunsmore's hands. However, the superintendent is currently out due to knee surgery and is scheduled to return on a part-time basis next week.

Dunsmore and the Board are expected to meet and render their decision at that time.

The vacancy occurred in early January when then-head coach Bennett Johnson and the administration agreed to part on "amicable terms." Johnson won seven games during his three-year tenure.

WCPS officials did not post the opening with the N.C. High School Athletic Association until March -- nearly two months after Johnson resigned. Applications were taken during that time and the interview process began in April.

Dean Sauls, assistant superintendent,steered the committee during the interview process.

Coaches are currently preparing for spring practice.

There are two dead periods from July 3-9 and July 17-23. The first official practice date is July 31 and regular-season play launches on Aug. 18.

Goldsboro has missed the playoffs each of the past four seasons. Before the drought started, the Cougars racked up 57 victories that included four conference championships -- Eastern Plains 2-A (2007) and Carolina 1-A (2009, 2010, 2012). The Cougars lost to Southwest Onslow in the 2009 eastern regional final.

That success occurred over a six-year period with Eric Reid as head coach. According to research through CarolinaPreps.com, Reid is the program's third-winningest head coach with 61 victories behind Elvin James (67) and Gerald Whisenhunt (163) over the past six decades.

The Association realigned the Cougars into the East Central 2-A Conference which includes Wallace-Rose Hill, James Kenan, Midway, East Duplin, Spring Creek and Clinton. That move is effective July 1.