Ringgold wrestling coach Billy Broom has resigned his post to make way for Tiger two-year assistant Jeff Daffron.
Broom’s decision came only months after his Tigers captured the first-ever Ringgold wrestling state championship and state-duals title.
Daffron led Trion to the school’s first state championship in 1994 after starting the program there.
Broom said he will remain on the Tigers’ staff as Daffron’s assistant, after deciding to set aside his head coaching responsibilities for personal reasons.
He said he was excited about the upcoming wrestling season under Daffron and doesn’t anticipate leaving Ringgold anytime soon.
“I never talked to anybody else about another job, though I heard I was going different places, and I also heard I was being run off,” Broom said. “I was the one making the decision. The kids and the parents talked me into staying as the assistant, and I’m lucky they are letting me do that.”
Broom said he his decision to step down is best for the program. He said he isn’t concerned with the destiny of the Tigers’ program in Daffron’s hands.
“I don’t think our program will change much at all,” Broom said. “The way we coach, you can’t tell the difference between us. We respect each other a lot and Jeff is more than qualified for the position.”
Both Daffron and Broom are former Ringgold wrestlers.
“I’m really excited and looking forward to the challenge of keeping the program where it is now,” Daffron said. “I’ve enjoyed my two years here at Ringgold and am thrilled to be h2ead coach of a program that has been one of the top quality programs for the past 25 years.”
Daffron has been a head wrestling coach at Ringgold Junior High School, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe, LaFayette and Trion in his 15-years as a teacher.
He said he too isn’t concerned about the future of the Ringgold wrestling program and the coaching staff will continue to work to better the team.
“I don’t think they’re will be much change in the way we run our program,” Daffron said. “We both wrestled under Steve McDaniel, so we have the same wrestling style. We’re still going to wrestle hard, be aggressive and be in better shape than anybody else.”
Ringgold Athletic Director Lamar Brown, a former Ringgold High wrestler as well, said he believes neither coach will have a problem accepting their new roles.
“Billy and Jeff compliment each other well, and I believe you won’t see a difference,” Brown said. “Our wrestling program is like a family anyway. They both came up through the program, so they know what it’s all about.
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