SUN Coaches Podcast

Coach Spence is a native of Gordon County. He attended Gordon Central where he played football, basketball and baseball. Coach Spence had the opportunity to go on to play baseball at Kennesaw State. Coach Spence always knew he was going to teach and coach and began his career under the legend Jimmy Dorsey at McEachern. He worked his way up from position coach to coordinator over the course of fifteen years before taking his first head coaching job at Paulding County. Coach Spence is entering his second year at the helm at East Paulding. He is one of the best men in the business and I hope you enjoy hearing his story!

Coach Vavra is a native of Marietta Georgia where he went to high school and played at Sprayberry High School. He went on to play college football at the United States Naval Academy Prep School before transferring and playing at Tennessee Tech as a linebacker. Coach Vavra coached at multiple places in the Atlanta metro before getting his first HFC job at his alma mater and has recently taken over the Etowah program. His message of establishing and maintaining positive relationships with the people you come across in this business is sure to resonate with you! I hope you enjoy Coach Vavra's story!

Coach Coe is a LEGEND. He grew up in central Florida and after spending 8 years at his Alma Mater, he went to Madison County where he won multiple state championships before arriving at Coffee. At Coffee, he did what no other coach had ever been able to do, win the trophy. Coach Coe is a man of faith, loves his kids, and develops young men at a time where developing young men is at a premium. I hope you enjoy Coach Coe's story!

Coach Richardson is a native of Sumter South Carolina where he had a stellar career as a quarterback and went on to play at Coastal Carolina. Coach began his coaching career in Georgia and chewed some dirt while working his way up the ranks and getting his first head coaching job in his home state right before COVID hit. After a re=set, Coach Richardson came back to Georgia as an assistant and has recently been named the new HFC at Luella High School. I hope you enjoy his story of hard work and perseverance!

Coach Williams is the son of a coach that grew up and played in Cherokee County. He was a two sport athlete that also played baseball in high school. After high school, Coach Williams went on to play college football at Tusculum College. Coach always knew he wanted to teach and coach and started right away and has never looked back. He is truly one of the good ones out there pouring into our young people now and I hope you enjoy Coach Trevor Williams' story!

Coach Small is a native of Augusta where he played and graduated from Westside High School. John was a standout football and baseball player and went on to play college football at the University of West Georgia. Coach Small got to start his career under the legendary Coach T McFerrin at South Gwinnett High School. Coach Small has been a head football coach for 20 years now and has had great success at both South Gwinnett and no East Coweta. I hope you enjoy Coach Small's story as much as I enjoyed talking with him!

Coach Patton is a native of Gwinnett County where he played high school ball and graduated from Grayson High School. He went on to college to become a teacher and coach due to the influence of Georgia High School legend and his coach Mickey Conn. Coach Patton began his career at Grayson and made his way from there. I hope you enjoy hearing Coach Patton's story!

Coach Roberts is coach's kid that played high school ball at Deland high school in Florida. He went on to play collegiately at Valdosta State where he was a member of the 2012 National Championship team. After college, Justin went into coaching and spent 12 years at University High School as QB coach, OC, and eventually the HFC. He has jus taken over the tradition rich ELCA program in GA and I can't wait to see the great things he is sure to do there! I hope you enjoy Coach Robert's story!

Coach Poag is a native of Dalton Georgia where he played for the late legendary Bill Chappell. Preston excelled at both football and baseball and was blessed enough to play at NC State on both the football and baseball teams. Coach Poag has coached at the college level as an assistant and coordinator before being a HFC at Christian Heritage and now North Murray. I hope you enjoy hearing one of the best in the business tell his story!

Coach Gates is a graduate of McEachern High School where he played for the legendary Jimmy Dorsey and Coach Jeff Herron. After high school, Steve went on to play offensive line at the University of Georgia. Coach Gates didn't get into education right away, opting instead to enter the business world. Once he got in, he set his sights on being a HFC and after 10 years of working his way up he has taken over at Cass and turned that program into a perennial playoff team. I hope you enjoy his story!