After 11 seasons and 2 state titles with Rome, coach John Reid retires

Reid, 62, said he might consider college opportunities but has no immediate plans.

Reid came to Georgia, at East Paulding High, in 2006 after leading Alcoa of Tennessee to consecutive state titles. Reid transformed his new school into a state contender in Year 1, leading the Raiders to the Class 4A semifinals with a 12-2 record. East Paulding was 3-7 the season before and had never made the state playoffs.

Reid took the Rome job in 2015 after spending the previous three seasons at Tift County. He roused a sleeping giant, a program that many felt underachieved since it merged tradition-rich East Rome and West Rome in 1992.

Reid led Rome to its first state title in his second season, finishing 13-2. Rome repeated in 2017 with a 15-0 record. In a 2025 article, the AJC ranked Reid’s move to Rome in 2015 as the 24th-best football hire of the century. His Rome record was 116-27 with eight region titles.

Reid said he had not been actively considering stepping down until the weeks after Rome lost to Gainesville 37-6 in the Class 5A semifinals.

It was a good season for a team that started three freshmen and returned only one defensive starter.

“I never wanted to coach where I wasn’t effective, and that’s not the case now,” Reid said. “I’m as good a football coach at this age and probably done as good a job this year as I’ve ever done. It’s probably the right time to give someone else a shot, when the program is in good shape. I’m going to help find a coach that can make it as good or better.”

Reid said today’s decision has reminded him of what makes him most proud of his career.

“I just think of the texts I’ve received already today, not only the kids I coached in football, but I got one from Zack Wheeler (the Philadelphia Phillies All-Star pitcher and an East Paulding graduate), who I coached in the weight room,” Reid said. “They’re not saying thanks for making me a better linebacker. They’re saying, ‘Coach, you made me a better person.’ That’s more important than wins.”

Rome graduated several major college prospects during Reid’s 11 seasons. They included Adam Anderson (Georgia), Stephiylan Green (Clemson), Jamious Griffin (Oregon State), Toryan Smith (Notre Dame) and Joe Wilkinson (Clemson). Two seniors on the 2025 team, Jeremy Winston and Darnell Collins, signed with Georgia Tech.

Reid is a native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he began coaching. He has 253 career wins in his native state, Tennessee and Georgia.

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Gainesville running back Dwight Lewis (23) runs for his first touchdown during the first half against Rome in the GHSA 5A semi-final playoff game at Barron Stadium, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Rome, Ga. Gainesville won 37-6. (Jason Getz / AJC)