Frederick Douglass football coach stepping down to rejoin college ranks
Frederick Douglass head football coach Brian Landis will step down to take an assistant coaching position at Georgia State, according to school officials.
Douglass Athletic Director Jeremy Delaney confirmed earlier reports Tuesday afternoon and said offensive coordinator Nate McPeek will be named interim coach.
In a press release, the school said: “We are grateful for Coach Landis for starting our football program, helping to build a winning culture.”
The Broncos reached the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s Class 5A championship game in its third year of existence under Landis, with a record of 14-1 and a bevy of Division I college prospects on the roster in 2019. Senior running back/safety Devin Neal signed with Baylor. Senior offensive lineman Walker Parks signed with Clemson.
After the final horn of their 14-7 loss to Covington Catholic, Landis wouldn’t let his players hang their heads.
“Be proud of yourselves,” Landis told his team in a huddle on the turf at Kroger Field. “You did the impossible. Three years, and you’re here! It didn’t turn out the way we wanted, but dammit, I love you, and I’m proud of you!”
And the cupboard is not bare with coveted prospects such as linemen Jager Burton and Romarion Warner and wide receiver Dane Key on the potential roster for next season.
According to FootballScoop.com, Landis will coach linebackers at Georgia State, a Football Bowl Subdivision program in Atlanta that made a splash last season with a 38-30 win over Tennessee in Knoxville in the opening week. Georgia State finished the 2019 season with a 7-6 record and a trip to the Arizona Bowl where it lost to Wyoming 38-17.
Landis has been with the Frederick Douglass program since its inception with his hiring announced at the same time the school colors were introduced in January 2017.
He has a combined record of 35-5 and led Douglass to an undefeated streak (18-0) against fellow Lexington schools that remains intact. This year marked the program’s second district title and its first region title.
Landis came to Douglass after serving as the University of Kentucky football program’s defensive quality control assistant and as a linebackers coach. He was previously an assistant at Eastern Kentucky and Georgetown College, his alma mater, where he was the defensive captain on the Tigers’ 2000 NAIA national championship team and a graduate assistant for its repeat in 2001.
McPeek has been the offensive line coach and offensive coordinator the past three seasons. He was a four-year starter at Marshall University and went on to become an assistant at Boyd County High School before leading Fairview as head coach for six seasons. He was also an assistant at Bryan Station.
His experience “makes Coach McPeek the clear choice to take over the reins of Frederick Douglass football at this time,” according to the Douglass press release.
This story was originally published January 21, 2020 at 1:22 PM.
