Carroll Academy informed head football coach Bo Milton on Friday that the school was going in a different direction and he would no longer be serving as head coach of the Rebels.
Johnny Daves, who is the head of school at Carroll, let Milton know of the decision.
“Carroll Academy is going in a different direction in 2025, and Bo Milton will not return as head coach,” Daves said. “Carroll Academy thanks Coach Milton for his time. I’ve only known him personally for a few years, but he is immersed in the local community, and he has done great things while here at Carroll.
“The search for our next head coach began immediately. We are looking for someone who can get the kids and patrons to buy into the program. We want to move forward as fast as we can. Coach Bo is the ultimate professional, and he will land on his feet.”
Milton has served as the head football coach for the last 10 years. The Rebels finished the 2024 campaign with a 1-9 record, which included a 35-0 loss to North Delta in the first round of the MAIS Class 3A playoffs.
The veteran coach has compiled a 60-53 record while at Carroll and has a 189-127 combined overall record in 28 years as a head coach. He spent nine years at Tri-County Academy, two years at Brookhaven Academy, four years at Parklane Academy and three years at Winston Academy before coming to Carroll.
“We had some good kids this year, but it just never came together for us,” said Milton. “We faced a good bit of adversity when we lost our starting quarterback (Collin Hurst) before the regular season started.
“The school has decided they want to go in a different direction. I don’t understand it or agree with it. It’s their decision. I’m not sure what different direction means. I plan on honoring my teaching duties at the school. It will be hard, but I have to practice what I have always preached to the kids. Life ain’t fair, and when we have our lives turned upside down, you just have to suck it up and move forward,” Milton added.
“I’m a high school football coach, and a lot of times, we are day-to-day or month-to-month. I want to find another coaching job in this area. I have loved my time at Carroll Academy. We have had a lot of good players come through in the last 10 years. It’s hurtful because this not only affects me, but my family as well. It will work itself out somehow, some way.”
Milton took the Rebels to the 2020 Class 3A state championship game, where they fell 52-20 to Greenville Christian School. He was named the Commonwealth’s Coach of the Year following that season.
His wife, Shonda, is also employed at Carroll, and their daughter is in junior high at the school.
