Thomasville doesn't wait long to make DeLay the next head coach

Apr. 27—THOMASVILLE — Faced with a head football coaching vacancy, Thomasville High School quickly named an interim — and wasted little time in making that choice permanent.

Jonathan DeLay, named the interim when Zach Grage left to become Lowndes' next coach, was promoted from the interim slot Wednesday morning. DeLay served as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator under Grage, including last season's Class AA state runner-up finish.

"This is something special to me," DeLay said of being named head coach. "I'm super excited to be here."

The district received 21 applications and interviewed three candidates.

DeLay is a Ringgold native and attended Lafayette High School before going to the University of Georgia. He was a student assistant under Coach Mark Richt from 2006-09.

DeLay earned a BS in social science education in 2010 and began his high school coaching career at Franklin County High School in Carnesville. He was defensive backs coach there for three seasons before taking the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator position.

DeLay joined the staff at Thomas County Central in 2016, and became quarterbacks coach at Thomasville in 2017.

Under his tutelage at THS, the Bulldogs have had three all-state quarterback selections.

"We are excited to have Coach DeLay and has family lead this program into the future," said THS athletic director Jeremy Rayburn.

For more, see Saturday's edition of the Thomasville Times-Enterprise.