By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Tony McCants was one and done as Southern Alamance football coach.
McCants’ resignation came Monday.
“It was just a personal reason and I thought I should go ahead and do it while it gave them adequate time to find a replacement,” McCants said. “I had been feeling (this decision might come) for a little bit.”
McCants, 39, said the commute from his home in Stokesdale – a drive of 45 to 60 minutes depending on conditions – became taxing, particularly with young children at home.
“It wore on me as things went on,” he said.
The Patriots finished with a 7-4 overall record and 5-1 and in second place in the Central 3-A Conference in 2024.
McCants described the season as “pretty good,” and called the Patriots as “some of the best kids that I’ve coached.”
McCants was hired last winter to replace Fritz Hessenthaler, who was fired in November 2023 amid his sixth season as the state playoffs were about to begin. The Patriots ended up reaching the fourth round of the Class 3-A state playoffs that year and ended with a 12-2 record.
Southern has finished in first or second place in conference play in each of the past four seasons, the last two seasons in the Class 3-A league after the two previous years in a Class 4-A conference.
McCants was in his second job as a head coach following four seasons at McMichael.
He said he’s not looking to move, so he’ll explore other coaching options closer to home.
“I kind of took a step of faith on this one,” he said.
