By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
CENTRE – Jacob Kelley helped return the Cherokee County High School football program among the best in the state, but in the 2026 season and beyond, a new head coach will have to pick up and carry the torch where Kelley leaves off.
Cherokee County High School Principal Bobby Tittle confirmed Wednesday morning to WEIS Radio of Kelley’s intention to resign as the Warriors’ head football coach.
Kelley leaves Cherokee County following seven seasons with an overall record of 65-23, including three straight Class 4A runners-up from 2022-24. The Warriors finished this season at 7-4, including last Friday’s 28-26 first-round playoff loss at Good Hope.
“We’ve been blessed to have him for seven years,” said Tittle, who was returning from a work seminar at Perdido Beach when he spoke to WEIS. “He’s looking at some other options. We wanted him to stay, but like I say, he wanted to explore other options.”
Kelley was not able to be reached for comment by the time of this posting.
Tittle said Kelley sent him a text Monday morning wanting to meet with him to discuss his intentions. He said he told Kelley to wait on that meeting, as he was still at Perdido Beach. Tittle then said he had a phone call “talking through a few things” with Kelley.
“I came (to Centre) his second year, and we’ve had a great relationship the entire time,” Tittle said. “He cares about the kids. He works hard, and he works the kids hard. He’s brought our program up to one of the best in the state, year in and year out. He’s a good friend as well. If you’re around someone like he and I are around each other, it’s more than just a work relationship. You turn that into a good friendship as well.”
Tittle called Kelley’s decision to leave “a little bit of a surprise.” He said the Warriors wish him the best of luck in his next endeavor.
Now that Kelley has decided to leave, Tittle said the school will seek his replacement “as soon as possible.”
“Obviously the timing right now, if you have to go looking for a coach, this is the best time to do that, especially as the football season winds down,” Tittle said. “My initial hope is to have somebody in place in January.”
