Category Archives: Coaches’ Corner

Coaching Carousel

Updated 8/17

If there are any corrections or updates, please reach me @KyleSandy355 on twitter or [email protected]. With many jobs in the state opening every year, there is always a chance for errors, incorrect reports or last second changes. As a community, lets try to collect as much accurate information as possible. Thank you for all your help.

Boys

Chapel HillRodney Latham – Stockbridge
DunwoodyBen Braaten – Asst. on staff
HarrisonDavid Brock – Dalton
FitzgeraldHamilcar Kelly – Upson-Lee asst.
Forsyth CentralBrandon Hutchins – Habersham Central
Northside-ColumbusGreg Johnson – Central, AL asst.
Taylor CountyChristopher Jones – Former Upson-Lee asst.
Holy Innocents’Cabral Huff – Duluth
LovejoyWillie Reese – Griffin
GrovetownDarren Douglas – Aquinas
Westside-AugustaJerry Hunter – Former Laney HC
Winder-BarrowTravis McDaniel – Discovery asst.
North Oconee Rick Rasmussen – Newton
Griffin – Oscar Moore
Southeast BullochMatt Kuykendall – Asst. on staff
Hebron ChristianBrandon Johnson – GAC asst.
Peach CountyJohn Gordon – Westside-Augusta
BannekerDoug Lipscomb Jr.
BT WashingtonBrian Weeden – Grady
GradyPat Johnson – Mt. Pisgah
Walnut GroveWill Witherspoon – Grayson asst.
Appling CountyRufus McDuffie – Dougherty
Flowery BranchJay Burney – Boaz, AL
ValdostaDarrell Lockhart – Upson-Lee
RomeTerry Smith – Asst. on staff
Jones CountyBuck Harris– Baldwin
Tallulah FallsCody Coleman – Asst. on staff
Columbus – Quantavias Allen – Lovejoy
LowndesReshon Benjamin – Valdosta asst.
Woodland-CartersvilleJacob Selman – North Forsyth asst.
CairoJon Nolton – Jordan
River RidgeAaron Darling – Cambridge asst.
Kennesaw MountainEric Blair – Alpharetta
DutchtownJordan Griffin – Columbus State grad asst.
BaldwinAnthony Webb – Worth County
Habersham CentralCody Anderson – Longwood University asst.
East HallSeth Vining – Former Lakeview Academy HC
DecaturWilliam Faulkner – Mays
DoughertyBakari Bryant – Berkmar asst.
Heard CountyDerek Smith – Lakeside-DeKalb asst.
StockbridgeVernon Denmark – Heritage-Conyers
Stone MountainVincent Rosser – Former Henry County HC
MonroeMichael Hoffpauir – Americus-Sumter
OlaChris Katzmark – Asst. on staff
Central-TalbottonCalvin Baker – Former Randolph-Clay HC
Greenbrier  – Dee Howard – Dacula asst.
Druid HillsAntoine Stroud – Stone Mountain asst.
Aquinas – Santos Pagan
Brooks CountyDarius Dennard – Valdosta asst.
DuluthBrandon Pickell – Johnson-Gainesville
Glenn Hills – William Cunningham – Laney asst.
Mt. PisgahMatt Hixenbaugh – MICDS, MO
Oglethorpe CountyChris Shackelford – Former Monroe Area asst.
Fannin CountyBryan Richerson – Monroe Area
North Cobb ChristianAric Mawdesley – Berrien
BerrienDallas Neloms – Tift County asst.
NewtonCharlemagne Gibbons – Starr’s Mill
Upson-LeeChristopher Owens – Montgomery County
Montgomery County – Johnny Culver – Former Savannah Football HC
Savannah Christian – Robert Walsh 
Heritage-ConyersBrian Anderson – Social Circle
Hapeville Charter – Darron Rogers Jr. – Westlake asst.
Dawson CountyEric Herrick – North Forsyth girls HC
Americus-SumterJohnny Genwright – Asst. on staff
AlpharettaClay Crump – Lakeside-DeKalb
East JacksonJarvis Smith – Tattnall Square
DublinBen Smith
BrookstoneKevin Douglas – Asst. on staff
Providence Christian AcademyJoey Thacker
Worth CountySanders Dorough – Salem asst.
Towers – Al Williams
DaltonRyan Scoggins – Northwest Whitfield asst.
SalemInglis Hunter – BT Washington
Lakeside-DeKalbJamal Basit – Dutchtown
PelhamDerrick Lavatte -Asst. on staff
Southwest-MaconRobert Cotton Jr. – Dodge County
Dodge County – Tim Flowers – Former East Laurens asst.
Monroe AreaKevin Strickland – Chestatee
Mays – Desmond Williams
Savannah Country DayDemetrius Smith – Pace Academy asst.
Tattnall Square – Jeremy Mayweather – Georgia College WBB Asst.
Starr’s MillJosh Reeves – Morgan County Girls HC
Newnan – Trent Gatzemeyer – Mountain View asst.
ChestateeJosh Travis – University of North Georgia asst.
Social CircleTaylor Jackson – Asst. on staff
Johnson-GainesvilleChris Guthrie – Chestatee asst.
Union CountyCorey Garrett – Union County Girls HC
Eastside – Michael Gerald – Interim HC
Jackson CountyTy Baumgardner – Westwood, SC
Stephens County – Jeremy Hughes – Elbert County asst.
Jordan – Cedric Epps – Asst. on staff
Tift CountyXavier Holmes – Asst. on staff
North PauldingStephen Conrad – Asst. on staff
DarlingtonNathan West – Franklin County, FL
Cross KeysJulius Thompson– Former Redan HC
Athens AcademyMike Salvia – Asst. on staff
Bradwell Institute – Wilbert Hamilton – Jefferson Davis, AL HC

Girls

North Atlanta
ChattahoocheeLorenzo Withrite – Former Centennial boys HC
CalhounJamie Echols – Grovetown
Northside-ColumbusKiersten Reid – Former LaGrange College asst.
Social Circle Kimberly Battle
JenkinsBrianna Brooker – Asst. on staff
ApalacheeDerrick Allen – Lowndes Boys asst.
King’s Ridge Nick Isaac
LambertBrian Moon – Former North Forsyth Boys HC
Lassiter – Joannah Mackenny – Asst. on staff
East JacksonCherrelle Pullen – Cedar Shoals asst.
BannekerCandence Jones – South Atlanta
Allatoona – James Bouyer – Grace King, LA
Oconee CountyPhilip Manning – Asst. on staff
ArcherDani Wright – Norcross
NorcrossAshley Clanton – Mother McAuley, IL
BrookwoodCourtney Strauthers – Tennessee Tech asst.
WesleyanCarolyn Whitney – Brookwood
EvansStefanie Basinger – Former Greenbrier HC
GrovetownGeorge Dukes – Augusta Prep Boys HC
MariettaDerrick DeWitt – Sequoyah
MonticelloKurt Greene – Former Mary Persons HC
Stone MountainJJ Oliver – Tucker
Vidalia – Sissy Anderson – Asst. on staff.
Landmark ChristianLady Grooms – GAC
GACJessica Guarneri – Asst. on staff
TuckerNicholas DeLoach – Snellville Middle School
SequoyahChris Yarbrough – Northview
East CowetaQuacy Barnes-Timmons – Indiana State asst.
Newnan Shani Jones – Sumter Central, AL HC
SalemShalisha Davis – Central Gwinnett
South CobbLasonia White – Asst. on staff
Seminole CountyBrandon Ingram – Upson-Lee
Upson-LeeStephany Raines – SCAD AD
Savannah Christian – John Gant – Wiregrass Ranch, FL HC
AlpharettaRickey Jordan – Boys asst.
North Cobb ChristianGreg Matta – North Cobb Christian Boys HC
Tattnall Square AcademyCasey Jones – Former First Presbyterian Day boys asst.
Hebron ChristianJan Azar – Wesleyan
PerrySherry Richards – Evans asst.
Northview
Our Lady of Mercy – Bill Schmitz 
RiverdaleLashawnda Adams
Morgan CountyTimothy Roop – Asst. on staff
South Atlanta Daryl Dixon
North GwinnettJosh Chase – North Hall Boys asst.
Towers – Ulysses Haynes – Center Point, AL HC
Oglethorpe County – Michael Austin Peavler
HawkinsvilleBrandon Dawkins – Brooks County Boys HC
Central GwinnettCourtney Harris – Archer asst.
Jackson County – Aaron Schuck – Walnut Grove Boys asst.
North ForsythBrad Kudlas – Asst. on staff
Clinch County – Chase Daniel
Elite Scholars Academy – LaRosa Asekere
RockmartAndre Clark – Asst. on staff
Union CountyCrystal Beach – Buford asst.
Greene CountyJoe Smith
Miller GroveShavonda Wright – GLOBE Academy
Pebblebrook – Tina Hadley – McEachern asst.
West Laurens
John Stanley – Bleckley County asst.
Montgomery County
– Tyrone Madison – Asst. on staff

Coaching Carousel

­Updated 11/16

If there are any corrections or updates, please reach me @KyleSandy355 on twitter or [email protected]. With many jobs in the state opening every year, there is always a chance for errors, incorrect reports or last second changes. As a community, lets try to collect as much accurate information as possible. Thank you for all your help.

BOYS

North ForsythDavid Sokol – Flowery Branch
Marietta – Markus Hood – Allatoona
Gainesville – Chuck Graham – Asst. on staff
Flowery Branch  Chezley Watson – Jefferson girls asst.
LovettMike Harner – Asst. on staff
Central-Carrollton – Kenny Edwards – Former West Georgia Tech WBB HC
East Paulding – JW Cantrell – Lithia Springs
Peachtree RidgeMarcus Diggs – Asst. on staff
Pickens – Mike Duffie – Dalton
Pinecrest Academy – John Bauersfeld – Calvert Hall, MD
Taliaferro County Edna Smith – Girls HC
Johnson-SavannahRico Campbell – Asst. on staff
Starr’s Mill – Charlemagne Gibbons – Florida Atlantic University asst.
Luella – Lorenzo Bailey – Northwest Rankin, MS
Johnson County – Filled
JenkinsDerrick Allen – Lovejoy asst.
Johnson-GainesvilleBrandon Pickell – Lanier asst.
DenmarkTyler Whitlock – Johnson-Gainesville
Cherokee BluffBenjie Wood – Gainesville
Jeff Davis Bo Boatright – Asst. on staff
IslandsDave Corder – Former Lakeside-DeKalb HC
Ware County – Kingston Clark – Woodstock
Dalton – David Brock – Cass
Monroe Area Bryan Richerson – West Hall girls
First Presbyterian Day Gavin Chapman – Brewton-Parker HC
Fellowship Christian
Marvin Williams – Asst. on staff
Bradwell Institute
Kenny Wilkinson – JV coach
Habersham Central
Brandon Hutchins – Starr’s Mill
Centennial Matt Barksdale – LEAD Academy, TN
King’s Ridge
Bob Martin – Lambert asst.
Putnam County Derrick Arrington – Fitzgerald
Veterans
– Brett Hardy – Former Perry HC
Hart County
– Harry Marsh – Former Franklin County HC
Randolph-Clay – Wally West – Former Ocoee County, FL Associate HC
FitzgeraldDayon Toomer – McIntosh County Academy asst.
Allatoona – Chad Phillips – Former Valencia, CA
Athens ChristianCarlos Strong – Team Strong AAU
Southwest-MaconDarin Clark
Creekside
Anthony McKissic – Girls asst.
Lithia Springs – Duane Kelley – Cross Keys
Hiram
Keyon Boyd – Hillgrove asst.
Cass
– Sean Glaze – Kell girls HC
Apalachee
Ty Rowland – TN
Cross KeysToby Davis
Bleckley CountyGarrett Collins – Middle school coach
Collins Hill – Joe Dix – East Hall
WhitewaterMatt Martin – Asst. on staff
Harris CountyMario Walker – Football asst.
Mt. Zion-JonesboroEarl Simmons – Asst. on staff
DecaturLuke Cross – Asst. on staff
Stewart CountyMark Taylor – Girls HC
Woodstock
Josh Pierce – Asst. on staff
East Hall
Seth Thompson – Asst. on staff
Atlanta International – Greg Little
BainbridgeJeff Page – Rabun County
Maynard Jackson – Doug Lipscomb – Former Wheeler HC
White CountyWade Mawdesley – Liberty Christian Academy, VA
Madison County – Bryan Bird – Asst. on staff
South GwinnettQaree Howard – Interim HC/Asst. on staff
Rabun CountyDavid Adcock – Asst. on staff
Fannin County
Rockmart 
– Vic Calhoun – Villa Rica asst.
JordanJon Nolton – Mary Persons asst.
Pace AcademySharman White – Georgia State asst.
Greene CountyGregory Freeman – Creekside
Wilkinson County Xavier Whipple Asst. on staff
Lakeside-DeKalbClay Crump – Harrison
Trion – Lanny Thomas – Former Trion HC
HarrisonDouglas Byrd – Cedar Grove asst.
Worth County – Anthony Webb – Hancock Central
Hancock Central – Ricky Chapman – Asst. on staff
Mitchell County – Ricardo Rivera
Wheeler CountyTim McArthur – Football HC

GIRLS

DenmarkJaime Maxey – Chattahoochee volleyball HC
Redan Charlcye Henderson – Girls soccer HC
Milton – Russ Triaga – Dacula boys
Discovery – Kandra Bailey – Pearl-Cohn (TN)
Lakeside-DeKalb – Lakia Morton – Asst. on staff
Paideia – Monique Dawson
Lambert – Chris Roy – Asst. on staff
Pinecrest AcademyJonathan Oshinski – Middle school HC
Effingham County – Patrick McClure
LanierTim Slater – Rome asst.
ChestateeSutton Shirley – East Hall asst.
Mill CreekJeremy Huckaby – Mountain View boys asst.
Johnson-Gainesville – Jared Hodge – Baseball HC
EtowahRob Graner – Former Etowah Asst.
Stockbridge – Cynthia Cornelius 
Central-MaconTamara Bolston-Williams – Asst. on staff
Cherokee BluffLindsey Justice – Flowery Branch asst.
WoodstockRegina Tate – Mt. Pisgah HC
King’s Ridge Dee Brown – Lady Pumas AAU
DaltonBradley Beck – Golf coach
Taylor County
– Sheryl Brown
Worth County
– Kim Taylor – Former Brookwood (GISA)
Tallulah Falls
– Brandy Corbett – Asst. on staff
Long CountyBragg Thompson – Long County boys asst.
Lovett – Riikka Lehtonen– Asst. on staff
Lithonia –
Pamela Johnson
ML King
Vincent Gatling
AlexanderDallas Smith – Asst. on staff
Monroe Area
– Brenda Hill-Gilmore – Gainesville
Riverwood
Darryl Ellis – Campbell asst.
Kennesaw Mountain – Lisa Chapman – Softball HC
Locust GroveAntione Ford – Boys asst.
Bowdon – Jan Fendley – Former LaGrange HC
Randolph-ClayMarlon Gilbert – Boys asst.
DarlingtonHazel Hall – Asst. on staff
Miller GroveAshley De Marr – Former Morrow
Stephens County
Laura Baker – Franklin County asst.
Shiloh
Azure Agnew – Former Timberland, SC HC
Trion
– Justin Gentry
HamptonMolly Tideback – Former Grayson HC
Fannin County Ryan Chastain – Pickens boys asst.
Crawford County Nigel Carter – Shiloh
Jefferson Greg Brown – Northwest Whitfield
Jackson
Karisma Boykin – Carrollton asst.
Mt. Pisgah Angela Crosby – Whitefield Academy
Gainesville
Alan Griffin – White County AD/Former St. Anne-Pacelli boys HC
SprayberryKellie Avery – Hillgrove asst.
Seminole County
Truette Johnson – Softball HC
Turner County – 
Tia Lewis
Warner RobinsRebecca White – Asst. on staff
NewnanEarl Caruthers – Mundy’s Mill Boys asst.
Temple – Jake Shirley – Carrollton boys asst.
Rockdale CountySean Turley – Asst. on staff
West HallShawana Harrison – Gainesville asst.
Jonesboro – Telly Turner – North Clayton asst.
Northwest Whitfield Bob Williams – Walker Valley, TN boys
Lowndes 
– Antonia Tookes – Pelham
Pelham Jeray Randall – Boys asst.
Norcross 
– Dani Wright – Interim HC
Kell – Tony Ingle
ELCA – Andy Whitlock – 2016/17 HC
East JacksonDonnie Byrom – Asst. on staff
VidaliaBrad Thompson – Asst. on staff
Elbert County – Josh Jones – Asst. on staff
HawkinsvilleApril Daniely – Central-Macon Boys asst.
PerryMontay Park – Boys Asst.
Mitchell County – Monte Killins – Hancock Central Boys asst.
McIntosh – Rick Fontaine
Griffin – DeAndra Brown – Georgia State graduate asst

Coaching Carousel

Updated 11/19

Girls

Long County – Sheron Jones-Daniel – Bradwell Institute asst.
Woodstock Jared Hughes – Rome HC
Habersham Central
Bill Bradley
Jackson  Tony Watkins – Franklin County HC
Johnson-Gainesville Duke Mullis – Former Flowery Branch boys HC
North Gwinnett
– Amanda Heil – Asst. on staff
Oconee County
Thad Burgess – Boys HC
Villa Rica
Tammy Norred – Haralson County HC
Morrow
Rachel Henry
Arabia Mountain
– Jerry Jackson – Redan HC
Lumpkin County
 – David Dowse – McIntosh HC
Jackson County – Monte McClure – Asst. at Winder-Barrow
Mt. Vernon Rita Williams – Former Galloway asst.
Jones County
– ChoRhonda Gwaltney  – Glynn Academy HC
Adairsville – Michael Roberson – Adairsville Middle
Baldwin Kizzie Walker – Asst. on staff
Greenbrier –
 Brandon Dotson – Former Laney boys asst.
Glynn Academy  Sharnesha Smith – Bishop Kenny, FL asst.
ELCAGlenn Cassell – Stratford Academy asst.
East Coweta –
 Karen Frady – Former Starr’s Mill coach
Thomas County Central
 – Thomas McAboy – Coffe HC
Mary Persons –
 Lamon McElhaney – Asst. on staff
BrookwoodCarolyn Whitney – Lambert asst.
Winder-Barrow
Kimberly Garren – Asst. on staff
Pickens
Brandon Thomas – Winder-Barrow HC
Pope 
Bill Blythe – Varsity boys asst.
Walton
Matt Kelterborn – Asst. on staff
Mt. Paran
Stephanie Dunn – Berry College HC
Redan
 – Robert Welton – Westside-Macon football RB coach
Haralson County – Levi Wigley – Asst. on staff
Rome
Jason Harris – Henry County HC
Langston Hughes –
Xavier Trice – East Coweta asst.
Hardaway Kelly Ellison – Carver-Columbus asst.
Chattahoochee
Randy Clemons – Creekview asst.
McIntosh – Jessica Carlyle – Former Landmark Christian
Calhoun – Kayla Ralston – Asst. on staff
Coffee
Tasha Kimble – Former Turner County HC
Westminster
Katie Argall – Asst. on staff
Walnut Grove
Byron Farmer – Apalachee boys asst.
Franklin County – John Strickland – Blackman, TN asst.
Macon County – Dr. George McElroy – Manchester boys HC
VidaliaMatt Huddleston – Georgia Metros
Henry County
Greg Shook – Locust Grove HC
Salem –
 Delvin Wilson – Asst. on staff
Spencer – Pamela Smith – South Girard Middle School
Hapeville CharterDeMarcus Acree – Lovejoy asst.
Mill Creek – Trisha Collier/Tania Washington – Assts. on staff
Roswell
 – Antonio Wade – Thomasville HC
Thomasville – Carmenoique Dawson 
Carver-AtlantaThameena Azziz
Locust Grove – Tim Knecht 
Elite ScholarsKevin Davis
Union County – Corey Garrett – Asst. on staff
Bradwell Institute
North MurrayRandy Watson – Dade County HC
Dade CountyRegena Logan – Asst. on staff
New Hampstead – Bob Klofenstine – Former Hephzibah boys HC
Fellowship ChristianTroy Schulz – Asst. on staff
PepperellJeff Rickman
Lincoln County – Michael Williams – Thomson HC
Thomson – Christian Wilder – Asst. on staff
Monroe Area David Radford – Discovery

Boys

Long County – Reggie Wilkes – Adairsville HC
Habersham Central Jeremy York – Mill Creek asst.
Ola – Chris Gardner
Social Circle – Brian Anderson – Cross Creek HC
George Walton Academy – Tommy Yancey – Coastal Georgia asst.
Mt. Vernon Tarrik Mabon – Asst. on staff
Holy Innocents’ – Adrian Collins – 2016-17 Interim HC
Mt. Pisgah – Patrick Johnson – Citrus College HC
Adairsville – Alex Disbrow – Gordon Lee HC
Milton – Allen Whitehart – Etowah HC
Jefferson
 – Kevin Morris – Apalachee HC
Central GwinnettEmmett Rouse – Former Osborne HC
Sandy Creek – Jon-Michael Nickerson – Faulkner University asst.
Thomas County CentralLevi Williams – Former Savannah State AC
Drew Joe Weems
LanierBranden Mayweather – Central Gwinnett HC
West Laurens
Chuck Hill – Asst. on staff
Armuchee – Clint Decker – Asst. on staff.
Henry CountyBJ Thomas – Monticello HC
Commerce Russ Gregg – Eskrine women’s HC
Spalding Joseph Wilder – Henry County asst.
Lovejoy – Quantavias Allen – Macon County girls HC
Whitefield AcademyCourtney Brooks – Former SACA/Banneker HC
Houston County – Don Hudson – Football coach
Taylor County – Thad Williams – Bacon County asst.
Randolph-Clay – Laberton Sims – Toombs County HC
Tift County Chris Wade – Asst. on staff
ApalacheeSpencer Bernstein – Hillgrove asst.
DarlingtonBradley Pierson – Sewanee HC
Arabia Mountain Norman Brown – Former Providence Christian HC
RomeEric Holland – Tift County HC
Cross Creek – 
Lawrence Kelly – Saluda, SC HC
MonticelloChris Pennamon – Heritage-Conyers asst.
ParkviewJon Collins – Asst. on staff
Chattahoochee Chris Short – Roswell asst.
Troup
Blake Craft – LaGrange asst.
Rockmart
Steve Luke – Softball HC
ManchesterAnzy Hardman – Former Taylor County HC
Jackson – Virgil Amey – Duluth asst.
EtowahJason Dasinger – Alpharetta HC
Oglethorpe County – Matt Allen – Apalachee girls asst.
Lincoln County
Christian Tiller – Thomson asst.
Westside-Augusta
John Gordon – Pine Hill Middle School
Hapeville CharterKeydrick Barlow – Former Hapeville girls coach
KIPP Atlanta Bo Bivens – MoneyballATL
Bleckley CountyRandall Owens – Baldwin girls HC
Toombs County – Ryan Lewis – Statesboro asst.
Alpharetta Eric Blair – Kennesaw Mountain asst.
Walton Bo Abney – Former McEachern asst.
Johnson-Gainesville Tyler Whitlock – West Forsyth asst.
PerryReggie West – Girls HC
ML King – Gregory Boatwright – Asst. of staff
Gordon Lee – Matt Smith
Haralson County 
– Anthony Angle – Asst. on staff
Wheeler – Larry Thompson – Greenforest HC
Our Lady of MercyBill Schmitz – Athletic Director
Woodville-Tompkins – Lenny Williams – Former Brandon Hall HC
Monroe AreaBolling DuBose – Jefferson HC
Greenforest – Rory Griffin – Asst. on staff
Excel Christian – Shannon Boatfield 
Benedictine Bob Williams – Niles West, IL HC
Mt. Zion-Carroll 
– Tyler Wright – Asst. on staff
Southwest Atlanta Christian – Emzie Penny
Worth County 
Drew CharterJames Williams – Norcross Asst.

BREAKING: Milton head coach Matt Kramer resigns mid-season

Multiple sources have told Sandy’s Spiel that Matt Kramer and the Milton boys basketball program have severed ties. Effective immediately, assistants Julian Barfield and Sean Revels will lead the program. Milton, state champions in 2010 & 2012, has struggled to find long term stability at the head coaching position since David Boyd left. The Eagles are currently 5-8 overall with Duke-signee Alex O’Connell as Milton’s centerpiece.

Parents received this message of the resignation:

Hello Parents,

This note is to inform you that effective January 9, 2017, Coach Matt Kramer has resigned his duties as Head Basketball Coach at Milton High School due to personal reasons.

Under his leadership, many players earned basketball opportunities at the college level and we won’t forget the 2016 Final Four achievement . We thank Coach Kramer for all he has done for the program and wish him well.

Coach Barfield and Coach Revels will share coaching duties for the remainder of this 2017 season. GO EAGLES!

St. Anne-Pacelli lands new Head Coach Corry Black

Coming off of an Elite Eight appearance in Class A-Private, the program’s most successful season in school history, St. Anne-Pacelli turns to new leadership after Alan Griffin, head boys basketball coach and athletic director left in the offseason to become White County High School AD after serving nine years in Columbus.

Replacing Griffin is Corry Black, a fixture in the Columbus basketball community for over a decade. Black served as an assistant coach at Columbus State University from 2002-2008, first starting as a video coordinator. Black got his first opportunity coaching back in 2000.

“I didn’t play any college basketball,” explained Black. “I’m from Tifton. I went to Southern Union on a cross country scholarship and just stayed around the game. The coach didn’t have an assistant coach, so I basically was his assistant coach for two years and we won two state championships and went to the national tournament.”

After a two-year stint at Southern Union State C.C., Black spent the next six seasons at Columbus State before serving as an assistant at Chattahoochee Valley C.C. for the 2008-09 season.

Giving Back

Since 2009, Black has made it a point to help student-athletes better themselves on and off the court through CB Hoops. The organization puts on multiple showcases, tournaments and leagues throughout the year to better connect high school athletes to college coaches while also preaching the importance of education.

“I just wanted to help more kids,” said Black about why he launched cblackhoops.com. “Instead of recruiting 12 guys at Columbus State, I want to help kids all across the country. When I started CB Hoops I was able to do that and touch more kids through this program, holding showcase events and different things.”

Aside from the high school level, Black’s influence is still felt at the college stage. He serves as the Assistant Director of JucoReport.com, the No. 1 Junior College Basketball site in the nation where he helps organize major events such as The Battle of the South Jamboree, ATL Live Spring Showcase and more.

Leading the Ship

Black jumped at the opportunity to coach at St. Anne-Pacelli.

“It’s here in Columbus. That was attractive that I didn’t have to move my family. I can still continue to do what I’m doing,” explained Black on why becoming a Viking was too good of a spot to pass up. “St. Anne, they had a good run. Coach Alan Griffin did a great job over there…To be honest, I want to see if I can build it back up to what Coach Griffin did. Coach Griffin had it rolling and he did an amazing job and I just want to keep that momentum going and help the community out.”

Black is set to meet with the players for the first time today, Tuesday, October 11 at 12:10 p.m. With eight seniors graduating from last year’s 17-10 team, Black’s message to the group will be simple.

“Let’s try to keep the momentum going from last year. They got to the state tournament. I want to just keep that going. Let’s try to keep the tradition going, let’s try to make it a tradition. Let’s not just be a one hit wonder.”