Groves High school hires new head football coach

GARDEN CITY, Ga. (WTOC) - After a lengthy coaching search, it’s finally official, the Groves Rebels have hired their new Head Foootball Coach in Howard Jordan.

Coach Jordan comes over from Westside High School where he was an Assistant Coach and Co-Defensive Coordinator. He also was the Defensive Coordinator for Irwin County when they won back-to-back State Titles in 2019 and 2020.

This will be Coach Jordan’s first Head Football Coaching gig. He did take the reigns in coaching both HS track and wrestling but this will be his first head job on the gridiron.

“Meeting the kids at ground zero and starting at ground zero,” said Coach Jordan. “Development and character building is the number one thing and teaching them the mental part about it, the strength part, and understanding that hey, you only get one opportunity and me. I’m such a potter and I look at the kids as clay and I see if the kids learn what I already know they’ll be more comfortable growing with me.”

Coach Jordan takes over after Calvin Wells resigned after an 0-10 season in 2025. The Rebels haven’t had a winning season since the 2014-15 season when they finished 6-4. They also haven’t reached the two win mark since 2019-20. Groves will also compete in a new region in GHSA 5A Region 1.

“My biggest goal was to come in and say, ‘Look, the short term goal is to get better and win more games’, the long term goal is I want to win a championship.”

The 36-year old will look to revitalize the program. Groves is set to open up the 2026-27 season at home on August 21st hosting a region game against Islands at 7:30pm.