(Carrollton, Ga. – December 8, 2016) The Carroll County Board of Education has approved Rico Zackery as the new head football coach at Villa Rica High School. Coach Zackery returns to Carroll County from Georgia Southern University.
Previously Coach Zackery worked at Central High School as the defensive coordinator from 2011 – 2012 and as the head coach and co-athletic director from 2013 – 2015. Coach Zackery grew up in Newnan, Georgia and graduated from Newnan High School in 2002 where he was an all region defensive back.
Coach Zackery played defensive back at Georgia Southern University from 2002-2006, where he was a member of the 2002 and 2004 Southern Conference Championship teams.
He received his bachelor’s degree in Sport Management from Georgia Southern University. Coach Zackery began his coaching career at Colquitt County in 2010 where he served as the linebackers coach. In 2011, he moved to Central High School with Coach Grant Chestnut serving as defensive coordinator.
In 2013 Coach Zackery was named the head coach at Central High School. As head coach at Central High School, his teams had a record of 30 – 6, were the region runner-ups in 2013 & 2015, won the region championship in 2014, and made the state playoffs each year.
After the 2015 season Coach Zackery joined the staff at Georgia Southern University as Director of Recruiting Operations. Coach Zackery stated, “My family and I are excited to join the Wildcat family and return to Carroll County. I appreciate the opportunity that Mr. Harding, Mr. Cowart and the Board of Education are giving me at Villa Rica High School. Villa Rica is an outstanding community and we look forward to moving to the community and getting to know all those who support Wildcat football. We are going to work hard, be mentally as well as physically tough and play a brand of football that the Villa Rica community will be excited about.”
Villa Rica High School principal Glen Harding said, “We are proud to bring a veteran coach and leader like Coach Zackery to Villa Rica High School. He is a proven winner who knows what it takes to build a successful program. I know Wildcat fans will be excited and welcome him and his family to Villa Rica”.
Coach Zackery is married to Sikithea Zackery and has two daughters Skylar (3) and Sydney (5 months).
