Harrell Steps Down As VHS Soccer Coach

Courtesy of VHS

After eight years as the Head Coach of the Vidalia Indian Boys Soccer team, Coach Josh Harrell announced last week that he is stepping down from the position. Citing “more time with family,” Harrell said the decision was not an easy one. “The time that it takes to be a head coach of a sport is immense, and you know with a family person, that family comes first. I just couldn't justify to my family the time that I was spending away. So, I felt that it was best for me and my family to step down.”

Harrell led the Indians to a 77-53 record with a Region Championship and a Final Four appearance coming under his leadership. “The teams we've had were so talented over the years, and we had great kids. The years that we came up short in the Elite eight, and Final Four we had great teams, and great kids, but that’s just the way the game rolls. The best team doesn't always win in soccer, unfortunately.”

Harrell, who will continue to coach football as an assistant for Coach Rodney Garvin, had numerous people he wanted to thank, including his Grandfather (Don Waugh), who Harrell says influenced him to do what he’s doing today. “My Grandfather is my biggest supporter, and he is the reason I am coaching today.”

Harrell went on to thank several others including Coach William Harn, who is the girls head coach, who provided him with “guidance and direction, when he took over the program in 2016, “I'm a football background guy, and I started doing this to help Coach Harn as an assistant for something to do and make a little extra money, but he helped me fall in love with the game. And because of the kids, it ended up being something I really enjoyed.”

Vidalia High School Athletic Director Coach Tommy Dalley, thanked Harrell for his investment in the student-athletes of Vidalia High School, “We appreciate Coach Harrell and the job he did during his tenure with the Vidalia Boys Soccer Program. We understand the need to spend more time with his family and we wish him all the best.”

Dalley said that the search for a new head coach has begun and hopefully “we will have a coach in place very soon.”