ASHBURN — Turner County has its new head football coach and he’s a man the Titans know well. Ben Simmons is returning to the orange and blue.

Simmons, head coach at Turner in 2015-2016 was recently rehired, according to Turner County High principal, Jason Clark. He succeeds Kevious Johnson, who has taken the offensive coordinator post at Warner Robins.

It is hard to tell who is more excited, Turner or Simmons, about his return.

“From the outpouring of support,” said Simmons, “I think it’s mutual. It’s been a lot of love, not just from the Board of Education, superintendent, principal and all the administrators, the faculty and staff I’m familiar with and the community, too, as well, people who have reached out to me, former players, parents. Just community members all involved.”

As much as he’s loving the adulation, Simmons isn’t going to be held up by it. “It’s time to get to work and try to get ready to win some ballgames,” he said.

The Titans advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class A public state tournament in 2021, despite finishing at 6-7. In a region that contained both the state champion and the runner-up, Turner was third and knocked off two top-six teams during the year. One of those was Bowdon, whom the Titans blasted 46-13 on the road in the second round of the tournament.

A Jacksonville, Fla. native, Simmons went 16-7 in his previous two seasons at the helm, with state appearances in both. His 2015 team rose to No. 5 in the state rankings after a 6-0 start.

Clark talked about the relationships Simmons built during his first tenure. Those have been paying off, not just with his coworkers, but with players. Clark said that one young athlete already has a rapport with Simmons because he remembered Simmons coaching his older brother.

“It’s been a good feel,” said Clark. “It’s like he’s coming back home.”

“You still recognize last names,” Simmons said. “You can still recognize faces.” His up-and-coming players are siblings and cousins of his former charges. “That’s what helping me learn kids’ names.”

Simmons returns to a few changes at Turner. The nickname is now Titans and, starting for the 2022 football season, the team will be in a slightly new region. The Georgia High School Association changed its split of Class from private and public schools to divisions based on size.

Turner will be in Region 2-A in Division 2, the smallest of the divisions. The Titans’ region opponents in football are Atkinson County, Charlton County, Clinch County and Lanier County. Irwin County and Brooks County, both region opponents in 2021, will be in Region 1-A, Division 1.

“You still have familiar opponents,” Simmons said. “Nobody’s new, so you’re still familiar with the Charlton Counties, the Clinch Counties, you’re still familiar with ATCO and Lanier.” He said it will be one of the state’s top regions, even without Irwin and Brooks.

Simmons promises the Titans’ non-region schedule will be “top-notch.”

Following his time at Turner, Simmons spent a year as head coach at Worth County. Since then, he’s been an assistant at Valdosta and Irwin County. Prior to his first Turner run, he coached in various roles at Raines (Fla.), McIntosh County Academy and Tift County. He also spent a year at Turner as John Gamble’s defensive coordinator.

“I’m familiar with this whole area,” Simmons said. “Lo and behold, here comes the opportunity to come back.”