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The Coweta County Board of Education approved the hiring of
coach Tommy Walburn as the new head coach of the Northgate
Vikings football team Tuesday. He will begin in the position
this January. Walburn – who has served as Crisp County High School’s head coach and athletic director since 2006 – has over 30 years of coaching experience, including three years as an assistant coach for the Newnan High School Cougars 1997-99. As head coach at Troup County High School (2001-2006) and in Crisp County, Walburn led his teams to seven playoff appearances, including a quarterfinal appearance in 2003 and a semifinals appearance in 2001. Coach Walburn is a native of Birmingham, Alabama, and a graduate of the University of West Georgia. “We were all very impressed and excited about Tommy Walburn’s background and his depth of experience with high school football. We look forward to his leadership in our football program,” said Dr. Therese Reddekopp, Northgate High School Principal. “I’m excited to be coming back to Coweta,” said Walburn. “We’ve had four good years in Crisp County, and we’ve done some good things in that program. I thought it was time to take on a new challenge and I feel very much at home in this area.” Walburn and his family lived and worked in Coweta County before, and in nearby LaGrange, where his wife Karen grew up. “We enjoyed our time when we were here before, and the football programs and facilities are great. I’m excited about Northgate.” Walburn began his career at Hogansville High School – now Callaway High – and said that beginning his career at a smaller school “was the best thing that ever happened to me.” “It was just me and the head coach at the time – we had no specialist coaches - and I paid my dues by coaching every position on that team. I had to learn it all, and I learned there’s more to coaching than just coaching the game.” “Coach Walburn is the type to get right in and get his hands dirty, work with these kids, get the best out of them and get into the playoffs. That’s our goal and we’re excited to have him,” said Athletic director Bill Harrison.  Northgate High School Athletic Director Bill Harrison, left, stands with new Vikings Head Coach Tommy Walburn, right, at Northgate’s Henry Seldon Field Tuesday. |