Clarkesville, Ga. — Benji Harrison has taken on a new role within Habersham Central High School athletics.
Harrison, the school’s longtime head football coach, was introduced Monday night as the school’s new assistant athletic director by Superintendent Patrick Franklin.
The move adds administrative responsibilities to Harrison’s already full plate, but it’s one he says he’s ready to embrace.
“This place is home. This place means a lot to me,” Harrison said. “So anything I can do to help, that’s really what I want to do.”
The new role comes at a time when Habersham Central’s athletic programs continue to grow, both in participation and in the number of teams offered. According to Athletic Director Geep Cunningham, that growth made it clear additional leadership was needed.
“It’s a great situation,” Cunningham said. “It gives us another person in the athletic department to help out. Our athletic program has grown tremendously in the last some years. We’ve added teams. Our participation levels are high, not only at the middle school, but at the high school.”
Cunningham said the increasing demands of managing a growing athletic department made the decision necessary.
“It gives us another person to administrate a lot of stuff that needs to be done,” he said. “It’s just difficult for one person to do.”
Harrison will take on the new responsibilities while continuing in his current roles, including leading the football program.
“He’ll take this on along with all his other duties,” Cunningham said. “It’s just added to his plate a little bit, but that’s okay. He’s up for that, and it’ll be good.”
For Harrison, the transition may not dramatically change his day-to-day routine right away, but it will allow him to be more involved across all sports programs.
“I don’t know that it will change much from what I’m doing now,” he said. “But I think it gives me a little more leeway to help and take some of that off [Cunningham]. If I can just help us in any way and take some load off from other people, I’ll be happy to do it.”
Harrison also emphasized the opportunity to support the school’s expanding athletic offerings.
“Our programs have grown a lot. Our programs are getting bigger,” he said.
The promotion comes as Harrison prepares for another football season. The Raiders will begin spring practice on April 29, with a spring game scheduled for May 15 at home against Franklin County.
The upcoming season will also mark Harrison’s 12th year as head coach, making him the longest-tenured head football coach in school history.
When asked about reaching that milestone, Harrison kept his answer simple.
“Grateful,” he said. “Just grateful to get to be in a place for so long and to have had the opportunities to develop so many cool relationships with different people.”
Looking ahead, Harrison said the team will feature a large senior class of more than 25 players.
“It’s a good group,” he said. “We lose a little bit, but we also got a lot back.”
Cunningham said Harrison’s experience, character, and long-standing involvement in the program made him the right choice for the expanded role.
“We needed to get somebody that’s knowledgeable, that’s been around the sports scene, that is loyal, trusting, and he’s a great person,” Cunningham said. “So it’s a great situation. It’s going to help tremendously.”
Cunningham also made clear the move is about strengthening the athletic department — not stepping away from his own role.
“No, no,” he said when asked if the change signaled a transition. “We’re talking about making our athletic program better and stronger. That’s what we’re doing.”
With Harrison stepping into the assistant athletic director role, school leaders say they are positioning Habersham Central athletics for continued growth and support across all programs.
