Pelham High School football offensive coordinator Jep Irwin has been named the new Lassiter (Ga.) High School head football coach, according to Lassiter Principal Chris Shaw.

Irwin will replace former Lassiter High Trojans’ head coach Chip Lindsey, who left to coach another Trojan team as the quarterbacks coach for Troy University.

After struggling to back-to-back 3-7 seasons, Lassiter hired Lindsey and the Trojans went 21-4 under his tutelage.

Lindsey helped mold Trojan quarterback Hudson Mason, who committed to the University of Georgia, into the Gatorade and Georgia Player of Year after throwing for more than 4,600 yards.

Lindsey, a former Hoover High School offensive coordinator, and Irwin both run a variation of Louisiana Tech offensive coordinator Tony Franklin’s spread “system,” something that drew Shaw to the Pelham coach.

“There are only four or five coaches out there who know that system, and (Irwin’s) one of them,” Shaw said.

Shaw, who played football for Joe Gann at Homewood and also played at the University of North Alabama, said he interviewed several coaches and presented them before the Lassiter booster club, but Irwin stood out above the rest.

“He just blew them away with how passionate and how detailed he was,” Shaw said. “It was just a no-brainer.”

Irwin, who is friends with Lindsey, said he spoke with the Troy quarterbacks coach before interviewing for the position and quickly determined it was an opportunity he just could not pass up.

“They’ve been really successful the last couple of years under Coach Lindsey,” Irwin. “It really was almost a tailor-made position for me.”

Irwin thanked Pelham head coach Brett Burnett and Principal Bob Lavett for their support over the last four years.

“I’ve learned a tremendous amount under Coach Burnett,” Irwin said. “I’m really thankful for him and Mr. Lavett for the opportunities they provided me. It’s been a great four years and Pelham is a great place to be.”

Irwin is expected to begin work at Lassiter in three to four weeks, or as soon as he is released from his contract with the Shelby County Schools System.

“We’d like to hit the ground running, but first we have to do what’s best for Pelham and my students here.”