Dodd Hawthorne, principal at Brantley School, announced Monday morning that Ashley Kilcrease has been named head football coach for the Bulldogs.

“He’s done a tremendous job as offensive coordinator for the last eight years, and he also did a tremendous job running our baseball program,” Hawthorne said. “It’s just a great fit for us here.”

“I feel extremely blessed,” Kilcrease said. “I’m blessed to have worked for Coach Lowery for 14 years.  I learned from one of the best.”

Kilcrease worked for two years as a volunteer coach under Roland Jones, then as a full-time assistant coach in 1998.

He was on staff with David Lowery for all 14 years of his tenure, including serving as offensive coordinator since 2004.

“I told the guys that our job is to carry on,” he said. “Coach Lowery and all our seniors set the bar very high and left the program in great shape.”

“I’m definitely not trying to replace him because you can’t,” Kilcrease added.

Kilcrease coached the Brantley baseball team until last year and led the team to a state championship in 2009.

He currently also serves as assistant principal and athletic director, but he said that he’ll have to see how the work load is.

“We’re going to see how it plays out the rest of the year,” Kilcrease said.

Kilcrease said he will be overseeing spring practice, which will begin around the first of May like in previous years and will include a Green-White game instead of a scrimmage against another school.

“More than anything, we just want to continue what’s been set forth,” said Kilcrease. “Coach Lowery gave me some great advice, and I’ve been talking to the team.  They’ve been real encouraging.”