Bates Accepts Assistant Coaching Position At Macon County

Clay County High School head football coach Matthew Bates has accepted an assistant coaching position at Macon County High School.

The move comes five days after Director of Schools Matt Eldridge dismissed Bates from his head coaching position at Clay County High School.

Bates cited personal issues as a reason for his departure from Clay County.

“The administration here at Clay County Schools thinks the best thing for all parties involved is for me to step away and give the reigns over to somebody else,” Bates said.

Bates accepted a position Tuesday morning at Macon County High School as an ISS teacher assistant football coach. He told the Clay County football team about the situation prior to Friday night’s victory over Red Boiling Springs.

“It was emotional and the kids were shocked, but they understand and were supportive,” Bates said. “We went out Friday night and had fun and went out on a good note.”

Eldridge has named Jake Johnson as the new head football coach at Clay County High School. Johnson previously served as the head coach for Macon County Junior High. He was named defensive coordinator at Clay County High School earlier this year before leaving and taking the head coaching position at the junior high.

Bates was in his second year as head coach of the Bulldogs and had an 8-5 overall record. Clay County is off to a 2-0 start this season.

“The kids did an awesome job buying into what we did from a schematic standpoint. They bought into us giving back to the community and being community service minded,” Bates said. “These are a bunch of great kids here. I feel horrible that they are having to go through this but they are resilient and they’re going to keep fighting.”

Bates said he looks forward to using his head coaching experience in an assistant coaching roll and helping rebuild the Macon County program.

“I want to be a head coach again. If opportunities come and the timing is right I will entertain that,” Bates said. “There is nothing better than molding young men and teaching them in the game of football and life and watching them grow.”

Bates will begin coaching at Macon County High School this Friday.