Rance Gillespie Takes Over The Reigns At Rabun

Rabun County High School has appointed Rance Gillespie, an alumnus with extensive coaching experience, as its new head football coach. The Rabun County Board of Education approved Gillespie’s hiring on Monday, making him the 17th head coach in the program’s history.

Gillespie brings a wealth of experience to Rabun County, having served as head coach at several Georgia high schools over a 22-year career. His previous positions include tenures at Banks County (1999-2000), Peach County (2001-2006), Valdosta (2010-2015), Hart County (2017-2021), and most recently, Brookstone School (2022-2024). Throughout his career, Gillespie has amassed a 170-91 record, securing two state championships with Peach County in 2005 and 2006, along with five region championships. He also served as offensive coordinator at Georgia Southern University in 2016.

Gillespie’s return to Rabun County follows the recent retirement of Michael Davis, who led the Wildcats to a 27-10 record over three seasons, including a Region 8-A Division 1 title in 2022 and two quarterfinal appearances. The Wildcats finished the 2024 season with a 6-5 record.

As a Rabun County alumnus, Gillespie’s appointment marks a homecoming. He played for the Wildcats in the 1980s before walking on at the University of Georgia. His diverse coaching background and strong ties to the community position him well to lead Rabun County’s football program into its next chapter.