Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Former Gryphon head coach takes West Brunswick High principal job

George Kelley, who for the last eight years has served as principal at Bunn High School, has been selected to be the new principal at West Brunswick High in Shallotte.

Before going to Bunn, Kelley served as an assistant principal and athletic director at RMHS. And before that, Kelley was an English teacher and head football coach for the Gryphons.

Kelley's teams won two Big East 4-A Conference titles and went to the playoffs three times. Over 10 seasons, Kelley's squads posted 63 wins (63-41,.606) - the second highest total by any coach in RMHS' history. Kelley was head coach from 1983 to 1992.

He was also head baseball coach for the Gryphons when they won the NCHSAA 4-A state championship in 1980.

Kelley's children also played a part in Gryphon sports. Son Roman was the starting quarterback for the Gryphons for two seasons (2,110 yds., 27 TDs), while daughter Kristen played volleyball and basketball for RMHS.

Kelley and his wife will be leaving the Rocky Mount area for the first time since coming here in the summer of 1976.