Skip to main content

Georgia state champion high school football coach placed on administrative leave

Wg0vf-nP_400x400by: Keegan Pope09/28/25bykeeganpope
487170627_1212591604199385_7833840215707848836_n
(via Lee County High School Football/Facebook)

Lee County (Ga.) coach Dean Fabrizio, one of Georgia’s premier high school football coaches, has been put on paid administrative leave, he announced Sunday.

“Due to mistakes that have been made on my behalf, as well as some personal issues that I need to attend to, I have been placed on a leave of absence as Head Football Coach at Lee County High School for the immediate future,” Fabrizio said in his post on X (formerly Twitter). “In my 17 years as Head Coach at LCHS, we have always tried to hold the members of the football program to the highest standard. I hold myself to the same standard, but unfortunately, I have failed in that regard. I will be taking this time to address this and seek help.

… I have poured my heart and soul into our football program, our school, and our school system for 17 years. I apologize to our school, parents, community, alumni, supporters, and most of all the members of this program. We have a very capable group of assistant coaches who will lead the team in my absence.”

Fabrizio has served as the Trojans’ head coach since 2008-09. The longtime Trojans head man is among the most successful coaches in the Peach State over the past two decades. Prior to taking over at Lee County, the Trojans were 0-10 the season before and were a perennial doormat.

But with him at the helm, Lee County has won a pair of state titles and multiple region championships. Lee County has reached the state playoffs in 13 of the past 14 years, including a run to the Class 5A semifinals last season before losing to to eventual state champion Milton. They won the 2017 and 2018 state titles in Class 6A.

The school’s decision comes less than 48 hours after Lee County fell to Thomas County Central — the state’s No. 4 team according to the Massey Ratings — on Friday night. The Trojans are now 3-2 on the season and will be led by offensive line coach and assistant head coach John Flath for the rest of the season.

According to the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office website, a Dean Fabrizio was arrested early Sunday morning and charged with misdemeanor DUI, among other charges.

The Lee County school system provided a brief statement to the Albany Herald that did not specify the reasons for Fabrizio’s leave or its duration.

“The Lee County School System recently received information concerning an employee that merited further investigation,” it read. “At this time, that employee has been placed on administrative leave while the district reviews the situation and conducts an investigation.”