Leach to be next head coach at Garner

Garner Magnet High School has selected longtime assistant coach Thurman Leach to replace Nelson Smith as the Trojans head football coach.

Leach, an assistant at Garner since 1990 is a graduate of Fuquay-Varina High School, and was the Wake County Player of the Year in 1984.  He also was a four-year starter at Gardner-Webb University and coached for one season at Fuquay-Varina prior to arriving at Garner.

Garner, one of the premier coaching jobs and football schools in the state has compiled a 40-5 record over the past three seasons, including a 4AA state runner-up performance in 2011.

Nelson Smith announced his retirement from coaching last year and amassed a 146-41 record leading the Trojans.  Smith has remained on staff at Garner as the athletic director.

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