According to an initial report from SportsTone.net, Providence Grove has a new coach in charge of the football program. Mark Heilig will serve as the interim head coach for the 2024 season.

Previous head coach David Hayes resigned from his position on Aug. 2, three Fridays before the season opener. Hayes, who was hired before the 2023 season, confirmed the news with HighSchoolOT today. He is stepping down to spend more time with his kids. Providence Grove athletic director Cody Moran also confirmed the change.

In their lone year under Hayes, the Patriots finished with a 6-5 overall record and made it to the N.C. High School Athletic Association’s 2A West playoffs. The Randolph County school lost on the road at East Surry by a score of 42-13 in the first round.

Providence Grove picked Heilig to serve as the interim in short order. He was the outside linebackers coach under Hayes last season.

Heilig has over 30 years of coaching experience, mostly in Randolph County. He has coached under Burton Cates, Seth Baxter, Calvin Brown, and Todd Shuping. According to SportsTone, most of his time has been spent at Providence Grove or Eastern Randolph. He was also a head coach at the middle school level.

Providence Grove’s 2024 season will kick off with a home game against East Davidson on Aug. 23. The game will start at 7:30 p.m.

Source: highschoolot.com