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HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Gettys’ second time as Foard head coach ends

He led Tigers for last 3 seasons and for a total of 11 years

BY CHRIS HOBBS HOBBSDAILYREPORT.COM

NEWTON – Ryan Gettys’ second go leading Fred T. Foard High football is in the books. Late Tuesday, the Tigers announced he has resigned.

Gettys will continue to teach at Foard and in his role as boys’ tennis coach, the school’s press release said.

He has been Foard’s head football coach for the last three seasons and also guided the Tigers from 2003 through 2010.

The Tigers were 0-9 this season, 1-5 in the spring and 2-9 in 2019. They were 3-23 in Getty’s three seasons and 30-61 in his previous eight seasons, leaving him with a career mark of 33-84.

Foard’ press release said Gettys, a North Rowan High and Appalachian State graduate, plans to spend more time with his famly. The Gettys have two children and one grandchild.

Tigers athletic director Samy Shreitah thanked Gettys in the press release for his leadership, commitment and guidance in football and Getty’s work in tennis, the classroom and the community.

“He has positively impacted many lives in this community and among his players,” Shreitah said. “He has always represented Foard in a positive manner and we are very appreciative for all that he has done.”

School officials said they will begin a search for a new head football coach immediately. Foard will hire its 12th head coach since 1986.

Gettys worked one season at Foard as an assistant to the late Charlie Lloyd and then became head coach. He left Foard in July of 2011 to coach wide receivers at Bunker Hill.

The Tigers hired Derrick Minor — now head coach at East Burke — in 2016 when Tom Harper, who recently retired after a stint as an assistant football coach and athletic director at Lincolnton, resigned.

Foard went 3-8 in Minor’s first season, 9-4 in 2017 and 6-6 in 2018. When he resigned, he said him leaving the Foard job was a mutual decision made with the administration there.

The new head coach will inherit a team that finished last in the Western Foothills 3A (0-7), and the Tigers have lost 15 straight games since beating Patton in a spring season-opener.

Foard was outscored 421-41 this season.

*Reprinted by permission

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2021-11-27T08:00:00.0000000Z

2021-11-27T08:00:00.0000000Z

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