Dan Salvador is the fourth head football coach in Skipstone's three-year program history. (Submitted)
Elliott, who led the Warriors to their first wins in school history last season, submitted his resignation on July 12 and the school hired Salvador on July 15.
“We were disappointed but we accepted Nick’s resignation and we wish him the very best in all his endeavors. We appreciate what he has done for the program here at Skipstone and we will move forward with coach Dan,” said Skipstone Academy officials.
Elliott could not be reached for comment.
Salvador, 38, owns and operates SIA Insurance and Financial Services, LLC in McDonough and said he is looking forward to coaching at Skipstone for awhile. He attended all the games last season and talked with Elliott about the nuances of coaching 8-man football, which is what Skipstone plays.
“I am absolutely thrilled with this opportunity. I was planning to be coach Nick’s defensive coach and I was already prepared to be involved on a daily basis with the team. Now I’ll have more opportunities to have my name and imprint on the program,” Salvador said. “I have tremendous respect for coach Nick and I hate that he’s gone. I appreciate how he’s helped me.”
The Skipstone position will be Salvador’s first foray into coaching high school football, but he has coached in the past in Henry County. He was a select coach in the Henry County Youth Football for the last 10 years and he has been a charter member from McDonough on the Henry County Youth Football Board. He has been studying 8-man football and he has another interesting caveat with the sport.
“My first year playing football was at Fayette Christian School as a freshman and we played 8-man football before going to 11-man football during my sophomore year, so I’ve had some experience with that brand of football,” Salvador said. “I watched and learned as much as I could last year at Skipstone. I’ve been studying 8-man football and coach Nick helped me get up to speed on the differences between 8 and 11-man football.”
Salvador said he thinks the Warriors, which went 3-6 last season after going 0-8 in their inaugural 2009 season, will perform well this season despite losing some key players to area school CrossPointe Christian in Pike County. He’s buoyed by the return of transfer players Charence Wright and B.J. Sheppard who starred for Skipstone last season and he said the younger Warriors have looked pretty good so far.
“Also some players have moved in to Skipstone and they are nice,” said Salvador, whose son Christian will start his second season on the team.
Salvador said the Warriors will play an 11-man football game this season and they will host an All-Star Game at Warriors Field on Nov. 4. The school will also have a middle school team which will play 11-man football in 2011.
SKIPSTONE ACADEMY
2011 Schedule
Preseason
Date|Opponent|Time
8/12 |@ 3-team Jamboree|TBA
Regular Season
Date |Opponent |Time
8/26 |Appling Christian |7:30
9/2 |@ Peoples Baptist |7:30
9/9 |Philadelphia Christ. |7:30
9/16 |@ N. Georgia |7:30
9/23 |Comm. Christian |7:30
9/30 |Colonial Hills |7:30
10/7 |@ Faith Baptist Christ. |7:30
10/14 |OPEN |—
10/21 |Kings Way |7:30
10/28 |TBA |7:30
11/4 |All-Star Game @ Skipstone|TBA
Congrats Coach Dan!!