Smithfield-Selma picks George Coltharp to be its next head football coach
Smithfield-Selma High School in Johnston County has its next head football coach. The Spartans picked George Coltharp, who has previously served as the head coach at four other North Carolina high schools.
Coltharp officially signed on to the role this morning. He is taking over for Hancel Phipps, who lasted one season as the leader of the program. SSS hired Phipps after their successful head coach Deron Donald left to take over Garner High's program last offseason.
SSS' new leader has been the head coach at Westover High in Cumberland County (his alma mater), Western Harnett High, and at Red Springs and Fairmont, both in Robeson County. Most recently, Coltharp has been the assistant head coach/defensive coordinator at Hobbton High in Sampson County. He also served as the offensive coordinator at Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee.
Coltharp helped Red Springs to back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2011 and 2012.
The Spartans are coming off of an 0-10 overall season in which they scored 77 points. Smithfield-Selma's best season came in 1985 when the Spartans made it to the 3A East regional final, where they lost to Terry Sanford in overtime. The high school is led by a new principal in Crystal Gregory, who was hired last August. Gregory is dedicated to building a proud football program for SSS' student athletes.
