No Justice; The search is on for a new CHS head football coach

Commerce head football coach Marvin Justice announced his resignation last week, leaving the Tigers’ without a head coach for their spring practice session.

Justice, who was a defensive coordinator under Steve Savage for five years and the Tiger head coach for the last two, cited fatigue, distance and time away from his family as some of the reasons for his resignation.

“I had about an hour and a half round trip every day and I never got to see my daughters,” said Justice. “A football season is tough enough as it is. It’s a grind – and as a head coach, it never stops. There just wasn’t enough time in the day for me to do this job the way it needed to be done, and I could see that.”

Justice also noted that he had been trying to sell his home in Hart County and move closer to Commerce, but due to a down economy, has had trouble turning it over.

The school system is yet to make a decision on who will replace Justice, but CHS principal and athletic director Donnie Drew said that applications are being reviewed.

In the meantime, Justice’s defensive coordinator Mike Brown is heading up the Tigers spring training and all other exercises until the position is filled.

Brown, a Commerce native, hasn’t yet filed an application with the school, but Drew said that he has expressed interest in the head coaching position.

“I am considering him a candidate,” added Drew.

Justice added that he felt Brown will do a great job running spring practice and fully supports him.

“I think Mike would be a good hire for them,” Justice added. “(Mike) knows everybody here and is kind of a legend in Commerce – he was a heck of a player, maybe one of the top five players ever to be here.”

Drew stated that he expects the board of education to discuss the matter at its work session on Thursday and possibly make a decision at its regular meeting next Monday, May 13.

While Justice is stepping down from the head coaching position, he says he still plans on staying at CHS as a teacher and possibly a coach.

“I would like to stay here and teach, and I would like to continue coaching here. I’m wore out, but I’m not burned out,” he added. “I love Commerce. The people have been good to me. A lot of people have a dream of becoming a head coach. I got to fulfill that dream at one of the best programs in the state of Georgia.”