A former Georgia Southern football standout is returning to the ‘Boro to don the blue and white, but as a Blue Devil, not an Eagle.
Matt Dobson is an exciting choice as the new head coach of the 5-A Statesboro High School Blue Devils. The four-year Division I football letterman, two-time All-conference Sun Belt player, first-team academic All-American, team captain, and semi-finalist for the National Football Foundation’s William V. Campbell Trophy brings high school and collegiate-level playoff experience to Statesboro where he wants to build a winning culture.
“I have great respect for the history of this program, and I am eager to work with the athletes and dedicated staff to continue building upon its legacy of success,” Dobson said. ”I am committed to building a winning culture and creating a positive impact in the community”
Dobson follows the team’s former head coach, Jeff Kaiser, who announced his retirement in December after a 27-year coaching career, six with Statesboro in 1996 and 2017-2022.
The school will host a press conference to officially welcome Coach Dobson to the Blue Devil family on Friday, February 10, at 1:30 p.m., in the lobby of the Chester McBride Field House at Womack Field on the Statesboro campus .
Statesboro High School Principal Keith Wright and Athletic Director David Jackson led a team of faculty and community representatives who reviewed 26 applicants and narrowed the search to four final candidates before selecting Dobson.
“We are excited to have Matt Dobson as the head football Coach for Statesboro,” said Wright. “He has the passion, commitment, and football knowledge to do a great job moving our program forward and really connecting with our school’s overall mission. We are happy to welcome Coach Dobson, his wife Ansley, and his two sons to the Blue Devil Family.”
At its February 9 regular session, the Bulloch County Board of Education approved personnel recommendations that included hiring Dobson as a new teacher and head football coach for the district beginning February 20.
“I am honored to accept the head football coaching position at Statesboro High School,“ Dobson said. “I am excited to get started, and I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together as we work towards new heights for this storied program. I would like to thank Mr. Wright and Mr. Jackson for such an incredible opportunity.”
Dobson is relocating from Cumming, where he has served North Forsyth High School since 2018, beginning as a quarterback coach and then as the offensive coordinator for the past three seasons. He also previously served as a special teams coordinator and defensive backs/wide receivers coach at Cook County High School as well as the school’s head track coach.
Dobson, his wife, Ansley, and their two children, Ryder (3) and Eason (9 months) look forward to making Bulloch County their home. He will spend the day at Statesboro High on Friday, meeting with current and potential players and coaches. Also hired to be a teacher, he will have an opportunity to meet the school’s faculty and staff.
Dobson obtained his bachelor’s degree in History and a minor in Coaching from Georgia Southern University. He also has a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from Valdosta State University and a specialist’s (6-year) degree in Advanced Educational Studies from Augusta University. He is a certified History teacher for grades 6-12 and holds special education certifications for general curriculum (P-12) and Social Science (P-12).
