SAVANNAH, Ga. – Islands High School announced on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, that it has hired Rusty Perry as its new head football coach. Perry, who has been an assistant with the Sharks for the past five seasons, will lead a program that is trying to improve after three seasons without any wins.
Perry, 45, has been part of the Islands football staff for five years, serving as the defensive coordinator and, most recently, the offensive coordinator under former 
head coach DeShawn Printup, who stepped down last month. He played a key role in the team's best season in 2020 when the Sharks finished 7-2 and won their first-ever playoff game.
A Savannah native, Perry was a standout three-sport athlete at St. Andrew's School, playing football, basketball, and baseball. He graduated from Valdosta State University and started teaching and coaching in Macon, Georgia. Perry has had coaching stints at St. Andrew's, with one year as the Head Coach of the Lions, special teams coordinator at Bethesda Academy, and assistant at Richmond Hill. In addition to coaching, he is an assistant baseball coach and a member of the Island's High School Physical Education Department.
One of Perry's first challenges will be strengthening the program's development system, as the Islands did not have a feeder school last season. Last year, the Islands football program incorporated eighth graders from Coastal Middle School into their junior varsity team to address this issue.
The Sharks will return key players next season, including senior quarterback Chet Bachman, running back Ethan McKinney, linemen Jason Padgett and free safety Zion Patrick, and an underscore of sophomores who will be juniors next season.
Islands High School has had five head coaches since launching its football program in 2012. The school's best season came in 2020 under Printup, but the Sharks have not won a game since 2021.
As stated in a press release from the school, Perry is committed to building a football program that strives for success on the field, develops young leaders, instills strong values, and strengthens the community for years to come, when he was announced as the new head Shark football coach.
Photo Credit: Islands High School Instagram page
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