Piedmont parts ways with football coach Aaron Braswell
Piedmont has parted ways with previous head football coach Aaron Braswell.
Braswell shared the news to his X account on Wednesday evening.
He joined Piedmont as an assistant football coach in January 2020, right before the pandemic turned the world upside down. One year later, Braswell was promoted to the role of head coach.
Prior to his takeover, Piedmont had five-straight seasons with three or less wins. Braswell's first season resulted in a 2-8 overall record, his second ended with an 0-10 mark, and the Panthers went 1-9 under Braswell this fall. Braswell's first season as the head coach also happened to be the first year that Piedmont was moved up to the 4A classification. This past offseason, Piedmont was successful in an appeal to drop back down to the 3A classification, which is more in line with the school's population.
Braswell took the job when he was 23 years old. In 2014, he broke Piedmont’s all-time tackling record as a key senior member of a group that finished the year 4-7 overall. When Braswell was a junior, the team went 8-5.
Braswell's statement said the following:
In January of 2020, I made the decision to leave my role in business to return to my alma mater to coach and assist with our athletic programs. After 1 year with the track and football teams, I was asked to take over as the Head Football Coach to provide our program with stability and consistency for our future.
Over the past 3 years, I have grown tremendously as a man and have made countless relationships with athletes, coaches, and community members that have blessed me beyond words. There is no way for me to thank everyone that has supported me and stood by me through this process. Know this, I love you and I am eternally grateful. You know who you are.
On Monday, I was notified that administration would like to make a change, and that my time here is coming to a close. Although I am disappointed by this decision, l am so thankful for the opportunity to make an impact here at Piedmont and I pray for the success and growth of all of the young men I had the pleasure to coach.
Ultimately, I know that I will be leaving this program better than I found it, and I am proud of all that we accomplished in my time here. I know that my impact on the hearts and minds of our athletes will last longer than any record or final score.
I am excited for my future and I know that God's plan is perfect. At the conclusion of the semester, I will join my wife in Augusta, GA, where she is stationed with the US Army. I plan on connecting with a football program where I can continue to develop as a coach and make an impact on the community. My journey has only just begun, and I look forward to the path ahead.
Thank you!
Aaron Braswell
James 1:2-4
