Bradwell Institute likely will be looking for a new head football coach soon.
Word spread quickly around the community Tuesday  about first-year coach Adam Carter’s resignation. Carter held an impromptu meeting Monday afternoon with members of the Tiger Touchdown Club to inform them he intends to present a letter of resignation to the Liberty County School System. According to club President Craig Stafford, Carter intends to resign after receiving an opportunity to be the defensive coordinator at Reinhardt College near Atlanta.
Liberty County School Superintendent Dr. Valya Lee on Tuesday confirmed there’s been some discussion regarding Carter’s pending resignation, and Chairwoman Lily Baker said she heard about it late Monday night; however, Lee confirmed that as of Tuesday afternoon, she had not received the letter from Carter.
Lee said that if she receives the letter before next week’s school-board meeting, it definitely will be among the topics discussed. The board will decide to accept or deny his resignation.
The Coastal Courier reached out to Carter for comment, but had not heard from him by press time.
Last season, the Tigers went 4-6 overall under Carter, which was an improvement from the team’s 2-9 record in 2012 and the program’s most wins in a season since 2009. The Tigers went 3-4 in Region 3A-AAAA last season.
“Yeah, we wanted him to stay,” Stafford said. “We are disappointed he is leaving, but we wish him the best of luck … our larger focus is continuing to improve the student-athletes of Bradwell Institute and the Bradwell Institute football team.”
Stafford said Carter, who received an outpouring of support from the booster club and the community, wanted to ensure they received the information first-hand.
“I think that was important, and the right way it should have been handled,” he said about the meeting. “He called us in to speak with us before it went public … it was very cordial and we wish him the best of luck, but probably the most important thing is that he reminded us it’s about the kids and about Bradwell.”
Stafford said Carter was instrumental in the revitalization of the football team and the creation of the Tiger Touchdown Club, but emphasized that the organization’s primary and continued focus will remain on the student-athletes and their academic success.