THOMASVILLE — After a 53-minute closed session, the Thomasville City Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday to accept the resignation of Thomasville High School’s athletic director and head varsity football coach.

Upon a motion by Chris Rodd, the board accepted the resignation of Leroy Ryals, who has held the dual positions since March 2013.

Ryals will be paid the remainder of his salary for the 2015-2016 school year — about $131,000, which includes $10,000 in unused vacation days. He will receive $70,000 on Dec. 10 and the remainder will be paid in a lump sum on July 1, 2016. His last day of employment is Thursday, Dec. 10.

The amount also includes his base teaching salary for the 2106-2017 school year, which was contractually obligated in his two-year employment agreement, less benefits and local supplements for head football coach and athletic director positions.

When asked what led to Ryals’ departure, Superintendent Sabrina Boykins-Everett said it was “mutually beneficial to both parties to go our separate ways.”

Complaints had been made about Ryals cursing at games along sidelines. Boykins-Everett said she talked to Ryals about the language. He was always receptive to conversations about the complaints, the superintendent said.

She added, “It would have been on more than one occasion.”

The 2015 THS football season ended in the Bulldogs winning one game and losing eight, the worst record in the school’s 103-year history. Their lone win was against Seminole County at Veterans Memorial Stadium Sept. 25.

They were outscored 338-111 over the nine-game season. That’s excluding the 26-0 deficit against Cairo in a game that was minutes short being an official contest before it was canceled due to lightning with 4:40 until halftime.

Thomasville didn’t score its first points until the fourth game on the schedule and averaged only 12.3 points per game, half of the average points scored in Ryals’ first two seasons. The defense allowed 37.6 points a game, two touchdowns more than its averages over Ryals’ first two years.

Boykins-Everett said she never had a conversation with Ryals about the losing season. When the school system contracts with a coach, conversations are not conducted about win-or-lose expectations, she added.

“We expect to go as far as we can in the season,” Boykins-Everett said after the Wednesday board meeting.

“I am thankful to the student athletes and parents of the Thomasville City School system for allowing me to be a part of their lives the past three seasons,” Ryals wrote in a text message Wednesday night. “At this time, I believe it’s best for me and all parties involved to move on to my next opportunity. Thomasville will always have a special place in my heart.” 

John Everett, board chairman, said he didn’t think the board discussed the number of wins this season and added Ryals had some success. “He was in state playoffs two of his three years here,” Everett said.

Ryals spent three years at the helm, leading the Bulldogs to a 15-17 record from 2013 to 2015. He led the team to playoff berths in his first two seasons.

The Bulldogs finished 8-4 overall in his first season, including a 5-1 record and the No. 2 seed in the region behind undefeated Brooks County. They made it to the second round of the Class AA playoffs, losing to Lamar County 38-20.

Lamar County lost in the final, 14-7, to Lovett.

The Bulldogs were 6-5 overall in 2014 with a 5-1 region record that tied with Brooks County and Fitzgerald at the top of the region. Thomasville fell to the No. 3 seed due to tiebreakers and lost to eventual Class AA champion Benedictine, 35-0, in Savannah last fall during the playoffs’ first round.

Everett said the board appreciates Ryals’ contributions to the THS athletics program, wishing him and his family success.

“We immediately will begin the process of seeking a replacement for the head football coach and AD positions. THS football and all of its athletic programs have a proud history of success and achievement and that will continue to be the expectation as we move forward in looking for new leadership in the football program,” Everett said.

Boykins-Everett said it has not been decided if the athletic director and head football coach will remain a position held by one person. “It will depend on applications, skills and experience,” the superintendent explained.

The positions will be posted beginning today on teachgeorgia.org, as well as the school system website at www.tcitys.org.

Once applicants have been vetted though the human resources department, an interview committee will complete interviews and make a recommendation to Boykins-Everett, who will make the final recommendation to the board of a candidate and terms of employment.

Thomasville’s annual football banquet set for next week has been postponed.