The Fitzgerald football program has found the schools next head coach as they have announced the hiring of Wesley Tankersley as the 29th head coach of the Purple Hurricane in the schools long-standing football history.
Tankersley has been a head coach in the state of Georgia at a number of schools, most recently coming over from Stephens County.
With the Indians down in Toccoa, Tankersley held a 46-32 record having spent seven seasons at Stephens County from 2018-2024.
Along with Stephens County, Tankersley held the same position at Ridgeland and Gilmer, spending three seasons with the Panthers and seven seasons with the Bobcats.
In his previous three stops as a head coach, Tankersley has accumulated winning records at all three schools including a 113-76 record at Stephens County, Ridgeland and Gilmer combined.
Tankersley will be replacing former Fitzgerald head coach Tucker Pruitt as he left the Purple Hurricane to join the Appling County football program.
Pruitt left the Purple Hurricane in great shape as he is coming off of back-to-back semifinals appearances along with 10-4 records in each of the past two seasons.
Tankersley will look to replicate the success that Pruitt is leaving behind as he took Fitzgerald to the postseason in every season as the head coach, along with three semifinals finishes, and three trips to the state championship game including a victory in 2021 where he helped the Purple Hurricanes win their first state championship since the 1948 season.
Pruitt was also responsible for two region championships in his time with the program in 2020 and 2022.
In his time with the Indians at Stephens County, Tankersley took the program from a five-win team to a consistent eight to ten-win team during his final four seasons with the school.
Tankersley has elevated every school he has spent time at including taking Gilmer from a zero-win program during his first season in 2008, to a eight to nine win team during his final three seasons. Tankersley also took a six-win Ridgeland program to an 11-win team in his final season.
Tankersley resume speaks for himself as he looks to win his first-ever state championships and Fitzgeralds third state championship with the Purple Hurricanes in 2025.
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