Eagle's Landing High School coach remembered
A community is mourning the loss of a beloved football coach. He died of complications from stomach cancer surgery.
Coach Joe Teknipp was diagnosed just a month ago and was determined to beat that cancer. The Eagle's Landing High School coach was given the green light to go home after a grueling surgery for cancer. But on his 19-year-old daughter's birthday, and one day before his wedding anniversary, he died.
The 47-year-old coach led his team to the playoffs two years in a row, the furthest in history, those who know him say he made it because of what the coach taught off the field.
Hundreds of students and staff made their way on the football field Sunday to remember the man they say had an impact on the entire community.
But the Eagle’s Landing High School family said he was an amazing man, both on-and-off the field and that he never met a stranger.
Coach leaves behind a wife and son who plays football at Georgia Tech and a daughter who runs track and field at the University of West Georgia.
A memorial service for the coach will be held Tuesday at 6 p.m. at St. James the Apostle Catholic Church in McDonough.