Lee High School stays in-house to name new football coach in Everett

By GRAHAM DUNN

Dre’quay Everett has grown up around coaching.

His father, Drenon, has been in the business 30-plus years, coaching mostly recreation football.

Now, after spending the last seven years as an assistant for the Robert E. Lee Generals, Everett will be in charge of the program, becoming the 14th coach in the school’s storied history.

“I’m excited,” Everett said. “It’s another challenge but I will take it head on. It will be different since in the past I’m only responsible for one side of the field and now the whole team. I’ll have off-the-field stuff and trying to create the right camaraderie.”

The position opened after Eric Hudson was removed following the 2021 season.

Everett has spent most of his career with the program, although he had one year of head coaching experience at a middle school in Georgia.

He was recruited out of Peach County High School to Alabama State by current Lee athletic director Tyrone Rogers, where the two began their long relationship.

Everett was hired to Lee – twice - by Rogers in 2013 and 2015 and has been at the school ever since working on the football staff in different capacities.

“From the first day, he has been a mentor for me,” Everett said. “We talk three or four times a week. I’ll still lean on him as we start putting this together.”

Everett’s first order of business is to replace several coaches on the staff.

“We’ve got to get a staff together,” he said. “We’ll have a young team since we lose 25 seniors. Our offensive line will be new so we will have a lot of new faces.”

He plans to open spring practice at the end of March or early April and possibly play in a jamboree.

Lee is scheduled to open the season the weekend of Aug. 19 against Sidney Lanier.