By MICHAEL BOYLAN

Sports Editor

The year was 1985. “Back to the Future” was big at the box office, Huey Lewis and The News blared from every radio, and a man named Jeff Ford arrived at McIntosh High School, becoming their new boys' soccer coach.

The Chiefs built a talented program under the direction of Ford, culminating in a state championship in 1992. The Chiefs defeated their longtime rivals, the Fayette County Tigers, 4-1 in the AAAA state finals.

Ford finishes his career at McIntosh with an overall record of 177-32-12. The team earned respect regionally, as well as on a state-wide and national level. He brought the Chiefs to the state playoffs 13 times, the Chiefs made it to the finals on two of those occasions. Four times, they made the final four.

Ford will travel back to Henry County. He launched the Henry County soccer program in 1979 and still lives in McDonough.

Ford announced his resignation to the team at the spring awards banquet. He has been coach of the varsity team for 15 of the 16 years it has existed. His replacement is expected to be his assistant coach Bunky Colvin. Colvin has been Ford's assistant for five years.

Henry County plays in 4-AAA and will likely face McIntosh in two years when the Chiefs drop to AAA.

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