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Fort Dale Academy has hired a new coach.

Headmaster David Sikes said Eric Folmar comes to Fort Dale from Luverne High School where he served as the offensive coordinator.

Folmar is an Edgewood Academy graduate and played baseball at Jefferson State Community College following high school.

He then served in the United States Marine Corps from 2005-2009.

After his service, he went on to coach linebackers at his alma mater, Faulkner University, helping lead the Eagles to a Mid-South Conference Championship and the school’s first play-off appearance in 20013.

Folmar also spend time as head coach at Southwest Georgia Academy and Edgewood Academy.

He also served as the run game coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Marion High School in Marion, Arkansas.

Folmar said he is excited about his new job.

“I’ve played against Fort Dale in school and coached against Fort Dale,” he said. “I understand the tradition and I have big shoes to fill following Coach Speed (Sampley).”

Folmar said that he is really excited to have Coach Sampley still on campus.

“We’re excited,” Sikes said. “Coach Folmar seems to be a good fit for our program. He seems to have the same mentality we do. We had some really strong candidates. Everywhere he’s been he’s been asked to come back.”

Folmar starts work on Feb. 25.