Cairo head football coach Steve Devoursney is moving on from the program he has led for seven seasons. 

CAIRO – The Cairo Syrupmakers will sport a new football coach next season. And a new baseball coach. A new athletic director is already in place.

Former baseball coach Chad Parkerson confirmed his new role as the school’s new AD. One of his first responsibilities will be finding a new football coach, as Steven Devoursney is retiring, effective Friday.

Parkerson said the school system received Devoursney’s letter of resignation Wednesday.

“We’re going to explore our options. We’ll come up with a plan moving forward very soon,” Parkerson said.

Devoursney served as Cairo’s football coach since 2017. It will mark just the second time since 2003 that Cairo has had to hire a new coach. Timing could be a challenge as the team will soon begin summer workouts with the first game a little more than two months away.

“All great stories have adversity. It’s not ideal (timing), but we will absolutely deal with it. We’ll come up with a plan very soon,” Parkerson said.

Devoursney announced that he would be relocating to Alabama. He compiled a 38-19 record and a region championship in 2018. Devoursney is pleased that the program remains in a strong position heading into the new-look Region 1-AAAA next year.

“I wish I could have stayed one or two more years. We’ve got some good kids and good coaches here,” Devoursney said. “When opportunity knocks, you’ve got to be ready to go.

“(Cairo’s) got a really good football team coming back. Most people don’t retire when they’ve got a good team coming back. It just worked out for me like that.”

Cairo football finished 7-4 last year. Its region next season will consist of Westover, Bainbridge, Hardaway and Shaw.

Parkerson also confirmed that Randy Adams, the school’s softball coach, will assume the baseball head-coaching duties as well.