The Franklin County High School football team will be under new leadership next season as the school has recently began seeking applications for a new head coach.

Trey Woodard is being replaced after leading the program for three seasons. The Bulldogs finished 1-10 in 2018, 1-10 in 2017, and 5-7 in Woodard’s first season in 2016.

Woodard replaced Anthony Hart who returned to Meadville for a second stint as head coach from 2014-2015 but left when offered the head job at 6A Madison Central. Hart went 7-4 and 8-5 in his latest two seasons leading the Bulldogs.

Before Hart came back to Franklin County the team was coached for one season by Chris Calcote on an interim basis after Jim Nowell was released without ever coaching a game. Calcote led the team to a 6-5 record in his one season of leadership.

Nowell replaced Franklin County alum Ricky O’Quinn who served as head coach for three seasons. O’Quinn finished with a career record of 21-17 as head coach.

Prior to O’Quinn Franklin County was helmed by current Tupelo High head coach Trent Hammond. Hammond led the Bulldogs for two seasons after replacing Grady McCluskey.

McCluskey led the Bulldogs to a 3A state championship in 2006 and served as the head coach for three years. Hammond had 12-2 and 10-4 records before he was lured away to work at Amory. McCluskey departed Franklin County to be the offensive coordinator at Columbus.

Anthony Hart preceded McCluskey and posted a 29-8 record in three seasons before being hired to lead the program at Lafayette County High School. While at Lafayette Hart won MHSAA 4A state titles in 2010 and 2011 as the Commodores had a 32-game winning streak during his time there.

The last Franklin County coach to lead the Bulldogs for longer than three years was Michael Goff, who served in that role for 24 years (1977-2001) and took the Bulldogs to the 3A state championship in 1994 where they were defeated by Amory.

The position has been posted on the MHSAA website for a week and advises that those applying should have a valid MDE teaching license and CDL or be willing to obtain one. The contact for the position is Franklin County athletic director Brent Calcote.

Story by Cliff Furr