While Pebblebrook has filled its opening, Harrison, Kennesaw Mountain and Walker will soon have new football coaches as the three Cobb County schools enter the final stage of their hiring processes.

After the exit of Randall Smith soon after the season in what was described at the time as the school wanting to “make a change for the program,” Pebblebrook looked from within to find Smith’s replacement, promoting assistant head coach Tommy Macon.

Athletic director Kevin Locke confirmed the hiring of Macon in an email, but multiple attempts at reaching Locke for further comment were not returned.

Harrison is close to securing a replacement for David Hines, who stepped down after four seasons at the helm and a 3-7 record in 2011.

While principal Donnie Griggers acknowledged that the school is near the end of its coaching search, he said he was unable to say anything more at this time about the status of the search.

“We’re getting close, and that’s all I can say,” Griggers said.

It also appears that Harrison’s Due West rival will have a new coach of its own manning the sideline soon as Kennesaw Mountain gets closer to filling its vacancy.

That school’s administration is looking to fill the position vacated by Chad McGehee after two seasons and a 1-19 record.

“We have completed our initial interviews and will be finishing second interviews this week with our search committee,” athletic director John Kelly said. “Our goal has been to be completed with the process and name a new head coach by Feb. 1.”

The new coach would be only the third that Kennesaw Mountain has had in its 12-year history. Scott Jones launched the program and was at the Mustangs’ helm from 2000-09.

Walker is also moving along in its search for a new coach to succeed Ben Williamson, who stepped down after four years but remains at the school as a teacher and assistant athletic director.

Walker, which went 3-7 last fall, has five finalists for its coaching job. According to athletic director Gary Blohm, two of the candidates were interviewed last week, with two being interviewed this week and one more next week.

After that, the field of candidates will be reduced to two, with those prospects scheduled for more in-depth interviews by teachers, students and other groups at the school.

Like Kennesaw Mountain, Walker is looking to name a new football coach by the first week in February.

“We want to make sure that we hire the best coach that we can for Walker,” Blohm said.

The new coaches will lead their teams in a landscape changed by reclassification. Harrison and Kennesaw Mountain will play in Region 4AAAAAA, while Walker will be a part of Region 6A — where it will be joined by county rivals Whitefield Academy, Mount Paran Christian and North Cobb Christian.