Southwest football coach and AD Joe Dupree departs for McDonough

Southwest High School Athletic Director and football coach Joe Dupree Jr. will depart at the end of the school year to become the head football coach at McDonough High School in Henry County, his new school announced on social media this week.

Dupree, who starred at Southwest as a quarterback in the 1980s, became the school’s head coach and AD in 2013 after a collegiate playing career at Georgia and Georgia Southern.

“It just felt like it was time. It’s a new opportunity, professionally and personally. I’ve lived up in Henry County since about 2010 now, so my family is up there,” Dupree said Tuesday night during halftime of the Patriots’ boys basketball game. “It’s emotional. There’s a lot of memories here.”

Dupree went 44-94 at the helm for Southwest as a coach, second only to Edgar Hatcher — his coach when he was a player — on the Patriots’ all-time wins list. Hatcher had 61 wins while leading the program from 1980 to 1993. 

The team’s best single-season record under Dupree was 6-5, which the Patriots achieved three times (2016, 2017 and 2023). Southwest made the playoffs in those three seasons, as well as in 2024.

Under Dupree’s watch as Athletic Director, Southwest saw particular success on the basketball court. The Patriots improved steadily after adding head coach Monquencio Hardnett in 2021, eventually reaching the GHSA Class A-Division I state championship in 2025. Dupree was also named Bibb County’s Athletic Director of the Year by the school district in 2025.

Dupree is well-known at Southwest. At Tuesday’s basketball game, the coach could hardly walk for more than a minute before a friend, student or fellow Patriots alum walked up to shake his hand and chat, be it about his impending move, his son — Chase Dupree stars for the basketball team and was the quarterback under his father — or that night’s game.

“It’s home. I came back and gave to my community. I gave ‘em everything I had. I’m hoping I left it better than I found it,” Dupree said. “That’s the hard part. With the kids, you become family after 12 years. You tell them it’s not about them, it’s just a decision you make for your career and your family.”

Some of his favorite memories at the school came long before he was an athletic director, though. In the hallway next to the locker rooms, an older Dupree recalled conquering Northside on the road in Warner Robins as one of his best wins.

“My best moment as a player was easily beating Northside-Warner Robins,” Dupree said.

The Patriots went down and defeated Northside 14-11 on the road for an impressive upset region win in 1989. Dupree would later win the Macon Telegraph’s All-Middle Georgia Player of the Year award that season.

“That win, along with being with my guys that senior year. We were all just texting in a group chat just this week, actually, about the new job,” Dupree said of some buddies from his playing days. “Those were some of my best times here when I was in school.”

Dupree also relished guiding the students he met during his time as a coach and AD, mentioning how watching those players grow and move on to better things was key for him during his Southwest tenure.

“It’s just seeing guys going to the next level, whether it’s college for the workforce. Seeing those guys progress and seeing I have an impact on them, that’s close to my heart,” Dupree said.

Nonetheless, Dupree seemed optimistic about his future tenure at McDonough. 

“I’m excited because the resources are there and the potential is there. Personally, it’s great because it means more time at home. I won’t be the AD, so that means more time with family,” Dupree said.

The Warhawks, who compete at 4A level, went 3-7 last season and were 4-16 overall under previous head coach Earthwind Moreland.