This CMS school has lost its head football coach just days before the start of the season
Andrew Howard was busy getting ready for the start of the 2022 high school football season when his phone rang two weeks ago.
In the spring, he had applied for a job in Gaston County but after the second round of interviews, he was invited back for Round 3.
“So I thought I would finish up the season and everything would be OK,” Howard said Saturday. “But two weeks ago, they called and said, ‘Would you be interested in the job again?’ ”
This time, Howard, 50, got the position. He will start as an assistant principal at WC Friday Middle School in Gaston County on Aug. 29. He has resigned as head coach at Berry, and the Cardinals will be coached by interim head coach Chris Redding.
Berry kicks off the season Friday at East Mecklenburg.
Howard said he had mixed feelings about leaving when he is, but said he will remain on staff as an assistant coach.
“I’m still helping out,” he said. “The principal at WC Friday will allow me to be out there, but I did tell (Berry coaches) that when I had meetings I wouldn’t be able to make it.”
Howard has been a teacher for 23 years, including the past 18 years at Berry, which is located near uptown Charlotte. Currently, he’s Dean of Students and teaches in the English department.
Howard said Redding was an assistant coach at Ardrey Kell during the spring 2021 season and also coached wide receivers at Albany University (N.Y.) last fall.
Berry was 3-5 last season and returns seven starters and 14 lettermen for the 2022 season.
