By Michael Butler

Tallassee has found its new head football coach and athletic director. Eric Folmar was announced as the next man to lead the high school program at the Tallassee City Schools board meeting on Tuesday night.

“I’m very aware of the tradition and history of Tallassee High School,” Folmar said. “I’m truly humbled and excited about the opportunity. I can’t wait to get to work.”

Folmar spent last year as an assistant coach at Greenville. He has eight years of head coaching experience. His first stint was at Southwest Georgia Academy compiling a 12-12 record over two seasons in 2014 and 2015. He coached in the AISA at Edgewood Academy for two seasons and Fort Dale Academy for four seasons going 25-40.

At Fort Dale, Folmar’s best two years were his last two, producing trips to the second round of the playoffs with 9-3 records in both 2023 and 2024.

“My time at Fort Dale was a good resume builder of what can be done,” he said.

Folmar, who is now 40, has put in 17 years in all as a coach..

“For years I felt like I was a young guy. I got to Greenville last year and I was the second oldest guy on the staff. I’m like, when did I become old? I’m still feel young.”

Folmar and his wife Emerald have two boys.

“Ages and eight and three,” he said. “Another one of the big things about this whole process was finding a place that was going to be a great fit for my family. I’m at the point in my career where I’m done chasing jobs and wanting to bounce around. I wanted to plant roots in a place where I could see my kids walk across a stage and graduate. I knew Tallassee offered that opportunity, and I’m excited to see them grow up in purple and gold.”

Coach L.A. O’Neal was one of the first to congratulate Folmar in a message on Facebook. O’Neal was approved by Park Crossing as the program’s new head football coach last week. O’Neal went 15-8 in his two seasons in Tallassee leading the Tigers to two playoff berths. Folmar hopes to keep things going in the same direction.

“X’s and o’s are great, but we all do some semblance of the same stuff,” Folmar said. “We’re going to invest heavily in our kids. I believe if you do all the little things right then the wins take care of themselves. We’re going to evaluate our kids and see what they do well and build our scheme around that.”

A handful of players met with Folmar after he was introduced Tuesday night.

“I’m excited to meet the rest of them and start building relationships.”

Five candidates were interviewed by a committee headed by THS principal Dr. Crystal Adams.

“Tallassee is a special place, a special community and we were looking for a special person,” Adams said. “This position is so much more than being a football coach. It’s being a leader of the school and leader in the community. We saw the qualities in coach Folmar that he can lead our young student-athletes to greatness.”

Folmar grew up in Montgomery and attended school in Elmore County. The Edgewood graduate served in the U.S. Marines and got his college degree from Faulkner University.

“I’ve been around this area my whole life and have always been familiar with Tallassee. Watching “Friday Night Football Fever,” it always jumped that they were at “Hot” O’Brien Stadium. When this opportunity came about it was a no-brainer to want to be a part of it.”