News from the Georgia Athletic Directors Association

Georgia Athletic Directors Association Newsletter

www.GADAonline.net

Vol. 4 No. 9

April 2013

Dear GADA member,

Gary Long

What an awesome conference. There were a lot of activities going on from Saturday through Tuesday morning. We had some great instructors teaching LTI classes on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. I would encourage each of you to speak to conference attendees about the benefits of the courses taught at the conference.

We also had a great keynote speaker in Vaughn Williams, Athletic Director from Kennesaw State University. Great exhibitors allowed us to look at a variety of things that we all need in our schools. We were able to recognize Region and State winners for Athletic Director of the year and recognized the new inductees into the GADA Hall of Fame. We heard from Dan Eassa about the NCAA Eligibility Center and college recruitment and we heard from Gary Phillips from the GHSA about 'hot' topics of interest for the upcoming spring meeting.

There was even time for golf or local site seeing if one desired. The Conference was packed with activities for everyone who attended and allowed many of us to meet new people from around the state. Great conference and a great time!

We want to welcome the new board members who were elected to serve on the board. They are Chad Griffin from Calvary Day, Nathan Turner from North Forsyth, Brian DeBerry from Central Gwinnett an Tommy Amoroso from North Springs.

Congratulations to outgoing President Mike Carswell and all the board members on setting up and conducting a tremendous Conference. Good luck to all the schools as we entered the rigorous heart of the Spring Region schedules and prepare for the Spring proms , graduation and play offs!!

Gary Long, CMAA

GADA President

Director of Athletics

Mill Creek High School

2013 GADA Hall of Fame Inductees

Ms. Peggy Johnson

After a highly successful career as a teacher, department chairperson, school athletic director, Peggy Johnson, CAA, devoted a tremendous amount of time and energy into the success of the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System.

Until her retirement in 2012, Johnson served as a coach in softball, volleyball, swimming, tennis and track. Her ability to tackle tough issues was clear as she moved up the ranks from school athletic director to system-wide athletic director where she was responsible for the oversight of the athletic programs for more than 35,000 students.

During her tenure as the Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics, Johnson approved the moving of the North-South All Star basketball games to Savannah in 2008 and the implementation of a comprehensive safety plan for the Savannah schools as Tropical Storm Hanna was bearing down on the Georgia Coast in 2008.

Since 2004, Peggy Johnson has been a highly involved member of the Georgia Athletic Directors Association. She served as the president of the GADA in 2006, as a Georgia delegate to the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association since 2009 and headed a committee that developed the current GADA Strategic Plan in 2012.

Because of her outstanding works, Johnson has been named Who's Who among Educators, received the Horace Mann Educator Scholarship, the "Top Ten Working Women of the Year" Award, the GADA "Athletic Director of the Year", the National Federation of State High School "Citation Award", the NIAAA "Award of Merit", and the Safe Routes Pace Setter Award.

Dr. Charles Webb

During more than 32 years in education, Dr. Charles Webb, CMAA served as a teacher, coach, department chair, athletic director, assistant principal, principal, central office administrator, and superintendent before retiring in 2008. He served as an athletic administrator for 27 years.

Dr. Webb earned four degrees from Georgia Southern University, including the Doctor of Education degree (Ed.D.) in Education Administration. He also graduated from the U.S. Army War College and retired as a Brigadier General in the Army of the United States in 2000 after more than 32 years of military service.

Webb was named Georgia's Athletic Director of the Year in 1993 by the Georgia Athletic Directors Association and nominated for the National Athletic Director of the Year in 1994. From 1999-2003, he was a member of the NIAAA National Faculty. In 1994-95, Webb served as the seventh president of the GADA.

As Director of Athletics for the Bulloch County School System from 1999-2003, Webb was instrumental in creating a master plan for athletics. He also served as Title IX Coordinator and established a local advisory committee to improve sports opportunities for girls.

The military career of General Webb is equally impressive. His service record includes four overseas assignments to Kuwait, Egypt, Norway and the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. King Harold V of Norway cited him for exemplary command leadership during NATO winter exercises in 1996.

Dr. Webb is a Retired Lifetime Member of the NIAAA and belongs to several military and veteran's organizations, as well as national and state professional associations. He received the Ashe-Stuckey Leadership in Government award in 2004 for public service and leadership in gender equity initiative in Georgia.

Mr. Charles Wilson Jr.

With a focus on community organizing and academic achievement, Charles Wilson, CMAA, has enjoyed a remarkable 30-year career as a teacher, coach, athletic administrator, assistant principal, and associate principal for the Bartow County School System.

As a youngster, Wilson was exposed to a lot of early life lessons from his experiences with neighborhood games and sports. He gained great joy from organizing youth sports leagues in his neighborhood.

Following his graduation from Shorter College in 1983, Wilson started his teaching career at Cass High School where he served as the head tennis coach and as an assistant coach in football and basketball.

Later in his career, Wilson served as Athletic Director and head softball coach. During this time, the school system was served with a Title IX lawsuit by a group of softball parents. Through his leadership on the issue, the case was settled out of court and softball program ended up with an outstanding facility.

Wilson has served as a member of the Executive Committee of the GHSA and as a member of the Board of Directors of the GADA. As a member of the GADA Board of Directors, Wilson served as Georgia's first Education and Leadership Training Coordinator, served as a member of the NIAAA National Faculty, and made presentations at the NIAAA National Conference in eight different years. Wilson served as the president of the GADA in 2003.

As an athletic administrator, Charles Wilson has always been noted for the innovation and creativity that he brought to his department. His was one of the first athletic departments to have its own athletic web site. Also, it was his proposal that was brought to the GADA Board of Directors that led to the adoption of the Director's Cup that is currently in place today.

2013 GADA Awards

STATE A.D. Award

Steve Franks, Lovett

N.I.A.A.A. Award of Merit

Bob Stinchcomb, Darlington School

Distinguished Service Award

Carter Wilson, Decatur HS

NFHS Citation Award

Peggy Johnson, Savannah-Chatham City

Frank Kovaleski Professional Development Award

Tommy Marshall, Marist

NIAAA Hall of Fame

Bob Ward, Westminster (Retired)

2013 ATHLETIC DIRECTORS OF THE YEAR

By Classification

Class A Jeanne Roberts Echols County

Class AA           Tim Corbett             Jefferson
Class AAA         Mark Andrews          Pike County
Class AAAA       Darren Myles, Sr.   The New Schools at Carver
Class AAAAA   Rob Williams            Lee County
Class AAAAAA   Kirk Barton              Norcross

2013 ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

By Classification and Region

CLASSIFICATION A
1A       John H. Williams   Calhoun County
2A       Jeanne Roberts      Echols County
3A       Chad W. Griffin      Calvary Day School
4A       David Wells           Marion County
5A       Kris Palmerton       Pace Academy
6A       Lynn DuPree          Whitefield Academy
7A       Steven Simpson   GA Military College
8A       Richard Ricketts   Prince Avenue Christian

CLASSIFICATION AA
1AA       Chuck King          Thomasville
2AA       Karen Swindell      Long County
3AA       Otis Smart            Lucy C. Laney
4AA       Bruce Mullen       Northeast
5AA       Lynn Rowe           Temple
6AA       Steve Franks       Lovett School
7AA       Chad Perry           Coosa
8AA       Tim Corbett          Jefferson

CLASSIFICATION AAA
1AAA       Michael Dean Moore   Johnson, Savannah
2AAA       Mark Andrews   Pike County
3AAA       Rex Hodges       Dodge County
4AAA       Jeff Beggs          Atlanta Public Schools
5AAA       Scott Cullifer       Gordon Central
6AAA       Mark Kelly          St. Pius X
7AAA       Harold Daniels    North Hall
8AAA       Steve Cisson      Morgan County

CLASSIFICATION AAAA
1AAAA       Harley Calhoun Westover
2AAAA       David Bruce       Veterans
3AAAA        Dawn Phillips   Butler
4AAAA       Stephen Phillips   Locust Grove
5AAAA       David Brooks       Carrollton
6AAAA       Darren Myles, Sr. New Schools @ Carver
7AAAA       Craig Parrott       Ridgeland
8AAAA       Bill Wells             Lanier

CLASSIFICATION AAAAA
1AAAAA       Rob Williams      Lee County
2AAAAA       Kevin Kinsler      Northside WR
3AAAAA       Yvette Rushing   H.V. Jenkins
4AAAAA       Curt Miller          Ola
5AAAAA       Ken Ritch            Hiram
6AAAAA       Robert Whitman North Atlanta
7AAAAA       Todd Miller          Sequoyah
8AAAAA       Tommy Stringer Loganville

CLASSIFICATION AAAAAA
1AAAAAA     Gary Blount          Camden County
2AAAAAA     Tracey Curtis       Newton
3AAAAAA     Fred Wheeler       Langston Hughes
4AAAAAA      Sherri Thoroughman   Hillgrove
5AAAAAA     Christian Suttle      Walton
6AAAAAA     Milo Mathis            Chattahoochee
7AAAAAA     Kirk Barton            Norcross
8AAAAAA     Tim Watkins          Archer

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AD Checklist/Reminders For April

Begin preparations for budget proposals for next fiscal year.
Schedule physical exam dates for fall sports athletes
Handle spring sports rainouts/cancellations and weekly schedules as needed.
Don't forget National Secretaries Day!
Set dates for summer gymnasium maintenance.
Set schedules for teams throughout the summer.
Send out school sponsored summer camps brochures and information to media.
Winter sports schedules should be finalized and contracts completed for next year.
Winter sports inventories should be completed and all equipment stored and secured.
Review and schedule maintenance on all scoreboards.
Prepare for spring sports region tournaments to include scheduling, traveling,
lodging and meals.
Monthly athletic department meetings.
Have scheduled end of the year team banquets and prepare to order awards.
Meet with Athletic Trainer (ATC) to receive monthly injury updates.
Prepare sites to host region events (if applicable).
Check for scheduling for officials, umpires and referees.
Communicate with Region Secretary for area/Region information and updates.
Check the GHSA website for pertinent information.