The rumors are true, Bulldog faithful. There’s a vacancy for the top job at Cedartown High School for their football team.

Superintendent Dr. Katie Thomas confirmed that “we currently have a vacancy for the position of Head Football Coach at Cedartown High School” at Cedartown High School just days after the opening of the second semester of the school year.

Jamie Abrams, who had served in that position, finished off his career as the Bulldogs’ third most-winning coach since Cedartown High began playing on the gridiron.

He spent five seasons leading the Cedartown Bulldogs to a 50-12 record, three region titles and a state title appearance with a last-second lost to Benedictine in a one-point game (in the pouring rain, mind you, with an undefeated team.) All five seasons of his tenure the Bulldogs went to the playoffs.

Abrams spoke out to Polk Today while cleaning out his office Thursday night of five years of memories following the decision, and wanted to let the community know straight out that he did nothing wrong to lose his position as head coach.

“I did not do anything unethical or wrong for the football program to go in a different direction,” Abrams said. “Regardless and having not done anything wrong, technically I feel like I earned the right to leave on my own terms where the program stands at this moment.”

He added that he was being reassigned beginning next week to Young’s Grove Elementary.

The decision came after those who were previously responsible for his hire in administration: principal, athletic director and superintendent had all changed. He added that during the ceremony less than a month ago honoring athletes and coaches for their 2024 season, Abrams was awarded for his 50th win with the Bulldogs.

“He stood up during that presentation and said that he hoped I would finish out my career with Cedartown High School,” Abrams said. “And we’re a month removed from that.”

He plans to pursue a new role with a different football program in the near future.

“I’ve been on a football team one way or another for 37 seasons, I don’t plan to stop anytime soon,” he said.

Abrams was also deeply involved in the Cedartown Recreation Department, offering his services as a rec coach in multiple sports and helping to increase participation in youth football in an effort to increase participation at the middle and high school levels. When he started at CHS, Abrams said there were around 200 youth involved in football at all levels in the Cedartown area. There were more than 200 at the rec night pregame run through for just the Cedartown Recreation Department this season.

“I did everything I could to grow the program from the ground up,” he said.

He did add one final thought as his tenure comes to a close with the Bulldogs program as it moves in a new direction.

“I also would like to thank the entire community in Cedartown for making Friday nights special the last 5 years,” he said.

Thomas provided the following statement to news media:

“While personnel-related matters are confidential, I can confirm that we currently have a vacancy for the position of Head Football Coach at Cedartown High School. We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to Coach Jamie Abrams for his years of dedicated service to our program.”

Check back for additional information as this story develops.