Lance Helton:  Head Football Coach

                Jeff Davis HS, GA

Coach Helton is a graduate of Washington County HS where he was a two
time 1st Team All-State Player for Coach Rick Tomberlin and the Golden
Hawks.  After graduation Coach Helton played football at Ball State
University in Muncie, Indiana for two years.  While at BSU Coach
Helton was a member of the Mac West Co-Champion Cardinal football
team, and a participant in the Toronto International Bowl under Coach
Brady Hoke. After his redshirt freshman year he transferred and
finished his playing career at Valdosta State University playing for
Coach Davis Dean.  During his time with the Blazers he was a 3 year
letter winner, and a member of a Gulf South Conference Championship
team.

This was Coach Helton’s 7th year as the Head Football Coach of the
Yellow Jackets. The 2023 Yellow Jackets were GHSA playoff participants
in the Gauntlet of Region 1 AA. Coach Helton and staff broke a 17 year
playoff drought the 2017 Yellow Jackets to the State Playoffs in their
1st season at Jeff Davis. In 2020/2021 the Jackets hosted Playoff
Games in consecutive years for the first time in school history.
Under Coach Helton and Staff the Jeff Davis Yellow Jackets have been a
playoff team in 5 of his 7 years at the helm, and have a record of
(45-31). Before coming to Jeff Davis, Coach Helton served two stints
as the Assistant Head Football Coach, Offensive Coordinator, and
Strength and Conditioning Coordinator at Dublin High School for Coach
Roger Holmes. He coached the Centers and Guards for the Fighting
Irish.  Coach also spent one season as the Offensive Line Coach at
Coffee High School working for Coach Robbie Pruitt.  Coach Helton
received his bachelor’s degree in Health and Phys. Ed. From Valdosta
State University.  Coach is married to the former Lauren Haywood of
Sandersville, Ga.  They have one daughter Camryn Rose (11), and one
son Knox Thomas (8).