Ex-Whitefield AD Heads Walker Football

has found a new head football coach after a national search that followed three consecutive 3-7 seasons.

The Marietta school has hired John East, the former athletic director at Whitefield Academy, to lead the football program and serve as an assistant athletic director, the school announced Thursday.

The nine-member search committee received résumés from across the nation but didn’t have to go far to find its man: East already was assisting with the Wolverines’ new JV lacrosse team.

“I look forward to leading the football program in the future and continuing to assist Pat Hall with the new lacrosse program,” East said in Walker’s announcement of his hiring. “Building relationships with the students is essential for a coach, and I truly enjoy that aspect of the job.”

East has more than 30 years’ experience in high school athletics as a coach and administrator.

“John is a leader of coaches and a leader of players,” said Walker’s head of school, Jack Hall. “Success has followed him. He is going to be an asset to the school as a whole, not just the athletic department.”

East replaces Ben Williamson, who stepped down as football coach in November after four years in which the Wolverines went 11-29.

“I am confident that John will bring strong leadership to our athletic department and, more importantly, encourage students to get involved in football,” said Williamson, who remains at Walker as an assistant athletic director and teacher. “He truly wants to connect with them and has a proven track record of building up varsity programs.”

East left Whitefield last spring after seven years as athletic director and as a coach of several sports, although not football. He previously coached football at Buckhead’s and in New Orleans, where he got a degree in sports science and physical education from the University of New Orleans.

He told The Marietta Daily Journal that he had other opportunities to be an athletic director or football coach, but the Walker job was the perfect one for him.

“I am a builder, not a maintainer, especially regarding building from within the school. It is important that students want to be on the team,” East said in the Walker announcement.

He’ll open his first season with the Wolverines at home against the Temple Tigers on Aug. 24, according to Georgia Prep Country.

East also will be a P.E. teacher at the school, effective July 1.

“John will strengthen our program and mentor others in the athletic and P.E. department,” Walker Athletic Director Gary Blohm said, adding that East’s experience, enthusiasm and integrity will elevate the entire school community. “We are fortunate to have someone of John’s caliber to step into this role.”