The Week 3 Falcons Coach of the Week, presented by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, has made connecting with players an integral part of his team’s success.
William Felton — a former player at Macon County and later at Albany State University — arrived at Decatur High School as an assistant football coach in 2008. He left to pursue his master’s and returned in 2016 as the school’s defensive coordinator after a stint at Atlanta’s Douglass High.
He rose to head coach in 2019 after the departure of Cody Cory. In Felton’s first season, the Bulldogs went 7-4 and made the Class 5A playoffs for the first time since 2005. And they won their first playoff game since 2003 last season.
Coach Felton recently told the AJC, he credited much of Decatur’s success to building relationships with players: “It’s bigger than football. Me and my coaches go above and beyond, whether it’s coming to school on Saturday to open the facility to work out or just as a place to fellowship and not be out in the streets, or going to buy cleats for kids or catering meals and sitting down and having family time with them. The coaches just relate to our guys.”
Coach Felton’s nomination cited much of that work: “He is a very compassionate guy who truly cares about the young men on and off the field.” | Nominate a coach
Each winner of the Coach of the Week program receives a $1,000 grant for their football program, a commemorative Falcons item and recognition from the Falcons and Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Atlanta Falcons Coach of the Week for 2021
Week 1: Craig Coleman, Luella
Week 2: Rich Fendley, Bowdon
Week 3: William Felton, Decatur
Week 4: Wesley Tankersley, Stephens County
Week 5: Marquis Westbrook, Warner Robins
Week 6: Maurice Dixon, Creekside
Week 7: Zach Corcoran, St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School
Week 8: Leroy Hood, Pebblebrook
Week 9: Rodney Hackney, Riverdale
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