Updated: Rabun County football coach is out amid some controversy

“This group of (rising) seniors at Rabun County is a special group to me, and I’m not going to be able to coach in their senior year, and that really bothers me,” Davis said. “Whoever gets the job, they’re inheriting a really good team.”

Rabun County announced that Davis was retiring in a social media post on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Davis’ brother-in-law and former mentor, retired Calhoun coach Hal Lamb, responded on X by saying, “Coach Davis was wrongfully forced to retire by a poor administration.”

Davis was Calhoun’s offensive coordinator for 19 seasons through three state titles. Davis helped develop nine first-team all-state quarterbacks at Calhoun.

Hal Lamb’s brother, Bobby Lamb, head coach at Anderson University, also criticized Rabun County’s decision and added, saying Davis was fired without cause and adding, “Wherever God leads them (Davis and his wife, Lynn) next, they’ll keep being incredible role models and mentors.”

Rabun County athletic director Jonathan Welch told the AJC that Davis had discussed the possibility of retiring several times over the past two seasons.

“Rabun County High School is incredibly grateful for the leadership Coach Davis has brought to our football program and our student athletes over the past three years as our Head Football Coach,” Welch told the AJC in an email. “He worked hard to be a positive role model for our player and students, and we are grateful for his time with us.”

Davis said that he took the Rabun County job so that he and his wife, also an educator, could live closer to Lynn Davis' father, Ray Lamb, who is 89. Lamb is a Georgia Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame coach best known for his time at Commerce.

Rabun County is the alma mater of Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton and Falcons tight end Charlie Woerner.