Former NFL and UGA football player on track to be head coach at Columbus area high school

Mark Rice
·2 min read

A former Muscogee County School District football standout who played at the University of Georgia and on an NFL team’s practice squad is on track to be the new head football coach at a Columbus area high school.

Bruce Figgins is the executive selection committee’s choice to fill the vacancy at Chattahoochee County High School, ChattCo superintendent Kristie Brooks confirmed to the Ledger-Enquirer.

Brooks explained why the executive committee — after hearing from subcommittees representing administrators, coaches, alumni and community — chose Figgins out of the 18 candidates who applied and five who were interviewed.

“More importantly than his football skills was the character and quality of the man that he is,” she said. “We know in today’s society our student athletes need a strong role model and a person of integrity and a person who is visionary about how you create the future that you want and desire, and Bruce represents all of that.”

Figgins, who graduated from Shaw High School in 2007, is an assistant coach for St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School and the Columbus Lions of the American Indoor Football League. The Ledger-Enquirer didn’t reach him for comment before publication.

Brooks said she plans to make the recommendation to the ChattCo school board during its March 12 meeting. If the board approves, Figgins would succeed Josh Jacobson, who resigned after a disagreement with the administration.

Chattahoochee County football recent history

Figgins would be the fourth head football coach for the Panthers in as many seasons. They went 1-9 in 2023, their lone season under Jacobson. The program’s two previous leaders departed for jobs in Muscogee County:

  • Pierre Coffey led the Panthers to records of 8-2 in 2020 and 8-3 in 2021 (both including first-round state playoff losses), but he left ChattCo to become Carver’s head coach.

  • The Panthers then went 5-6 under Ryan McKenzie in 2022 (with another first-round state playoff loss), but McKenzie left to become Hardaway’s head coach.

“We’ve had a cycle,” Brooks said. “And it’s time to stop the cycle.”

Bruce Figgins’ career summary

Figgins played tight end and fullback for UGA (2007-11). He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Baltimore Ravens in 2012, when he played on their practice squad.

After playing fullback for the New Orleans Voodoo of the Arena Football League in 2013, Figgins became a coach. His career includes the following assistant coaching stints:

  • 2013-14, defensive coordinator, Riverdale High School, Jefferson, Louisiana

  • 2015-16 tight ends, then defensive line, Geneva College, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania

  • 2018, offensive line, East Hall High School, Gainesville, Georgia.

  • 2019-2021, offensive line, strength & conditioning, Gainesville (Ga.) High School.

  • 2022, tight ends, Cherokee Bluff High School, Flowery Branch, Georgia.

In addition to his high school duties at St. Anne-Pacelli, Figgins has coached the middle school team.