MEADVILLE – After serving 30 years as teacher and football coachof the Franklin County Bulldogs, Michael Goff has taken a newposition at Franklin County High School. Goff will serve asTransportation Supervisor and will maintain his responsibility asAthletic Director and will now oversee the MaintenanceDepartment.

Goff, 51, served 24 years as head football coach of the FranklinCounty Bulldogs. He compiled a record of 143 wins and 116 lossesover the period. He also guided the Dawgs to 14 state playoffappearances and three bowl games.

“It was a tough decision to make,” said Goff. “I won’t beretiring but I will be leaving the coaching ranks. I’ve enjoyedcoaching and these kids over the years.”

Goff has had a lot of good teams during his tenure. His bestteam may have been the 1994 team when the Bulldogs went 12-3 andclaimed the South State Championship. The Bulldogs went on to thestate championship game at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium inJackson, only to fall to an Amory squad that featured future NFLproduct Chris Raniey and future Ole Miss running back Joe Gunn.

During Goff’s championship run in 1994, he reached his 100thvictory by upsetting two time state champion Forest 14-0. TheBearcats, then coached by Goff’s good friend Jack French, had astring of 21 undefeated home games, until the Bulldogs came in andupset the Cats.

“That ’94 team was probably my best, based on victories,” addedGoff. “I’ve had many over the years that were good, but the 1994team really stands out because of their accomplishments.”

Goff’s Dawgs went 6-5 last season, before losing to GreeneCounty in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs. The Bulldogsplaced third in the highly contested Region 7-3A race.

Besides coaching the Dawgs, Goff has also coached in a coupleAll-Star games over the years. He served as coach of the inauguralBernard Blackwell High School All-Star Game in 1993. He helpeddirect the South squad to a 9-0 victory over the North.

In 2000, Goff assisted in the 2000 Mississippi-Alabama All StarGame. The Mississippi squad lost a heartbreaker that year 16-9 toAlabama.

He was named The Daily Leader’s All-Area Coach of theYear several times. Goff also has been named District Seven Coachof the Year nine times, Subdistrict Seven West Division Coach ofthe Year twice, and Region Seven Coach of the Year once. He alsoreceived several honorable mention awards throughout the state.

Goff a Southern Mississippi grad coached under the late John M.Laird at Franklin County, before taking over the program in1978.

The Bulldogs always played a tough schedule. Goff usuallyscheduled larger schools in an effort to prepare his team for thedivision race and state playoffs. He took an active interest in hisplayers’ lives, on and off the field.

“The AD job will give me more freedom to interact with thekids,” said Goff. “I know there will more challenges.”

A Port Gibson native, Goff graduated from the USM in 1972 afterspending two years at Hinds Community College. He is married to theformer Janis Hynum of Pattison and they have two sons, Mickey, 25;and Benjamin, 11.

Franklin County principal M.D Bilbo said Goff made a careerdecision. “It was a good time for him to make a change. It’s like apromotion.

“It’s a big loss to our coaching staff,” Bilbo added. “He willhelp us find a new head coach.”