Apalachee High School head football coach Mike Hancock is stepping down to focus on his mental health following a tragic mass shooting last year that claimed the lives of two students and two staff members—one of whom was a fellow coach—at the Georgia school.
Hancock opened up about his struggles with depression, anxiety, grief, and PTSD in the aftermath of the September 2024 shooting, which also left nine people injured. Among the victims was Apalachee’s defensive coordinator, Richard Aspinwall, whom Hancock had worked closely with.
“After much prayer and seeking spiritual guidance, I have decided to resign my position as Head Football Coach at the Chee,” Hancock wrote in a post Friday on X. “These past several months have been difficult on me both mentally and physically.”
Hancock acknowledged that his mental health challenges had “crippled” him and spoke about the reluctance many coaches feel in seeking help. “As coaches, we are a prideful group and oftentimes don’t seek the help that we need to get better,” he admitted, adding that stepping away from the role would allow him to prioritize his healing.
“It is through God’s grace and me humbling myself before the cross that I am seeking the mental help and healing that I need to be myself again,” Hancock shared. He said he has begun attending sessions with a Christian counselor to work through his anxiety, grief, and depression.
Hancock spent seven seasons with the Wildcats football program and was a strong advocate for unity and a sense of normalcy among students in the wake of the tragedy.
“Our win was getting our kids back together, getting our kids on the field,” Hancock said of the team’s first away game after the shooting. “Yes, with football, you want to win and get on the scoreboard, but our win that night was getting back to playing.”
He hopes that by speaking openly about his struggles, other coaches facing mental health challenges will feel encouraged to seek help.
“To all my former players—I am here for you! Don’t ever hesitate to reach out!” Hancock wrote. “We need each other!”
CNN has reached out to Apalachee High School and the Barrow County Board of Education to confirm whether Hancock will remain on staff. He told Atlanta’s Fox 5 that he plans to continue teaching at the school.
