SUN Coaches Podcast

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!

Coach Johnson is a native of Forsyth GA where he played football and ran track at Mary Persons High School. He went on to graduate from Valdosta State and get into teaching at coaching from the ground up. He served as a video tech guy at VSU, a middle school, coach and worked his way up to being a HFC. He is one of the brightest young minds in our game today and he continues to serve as a great role model for our young people! I hope you enjoy hearing the story and thoughts of one of the good guys in the business!

Coach Groshek is a native of Wisconsin that has spent his entire teaching and coaching career in Gwinnett County. He has been a 9th grade position coach, Head 9th grade coach and worked his way up to be the HFC at Discovery. Coach Groshek is also the throwing coach for the track and field program. Roy is a real one and calls a spade a spade and is working hard to build something special at Discovery. I hope you enjoy his story!

Coach Swank is a native of a small town outside of Hershey Pennsylvania where he played football, basketball, and baseball in high school. He went on to play D3 football at Widener University. After 9 years of coaching as an assistant at the college level, Coach Swank became the youngest head college football coach at the time in the country in Buffalo NY. Bob eventually decided to settle in the Atlanta area and become a high school coach and he has been the HFC or DC at several schools in the metro area. His story is a lot different from most of ours for sure! I hope you enjoy listening to him as much as I enjoyed talking with him!

Coach Brown is a native of Roopville GA...that's just outside of Carrollton for those that don't know. Umbrah played for the legendary Randy Padgett at Central before finishing his college up at West Ga. After college, Coach Brown got right into coaching and hasn't looked back. Umbrah is one of the best in the business and what he shares during his story of how he got to where he is exudes the attributes that have made him one of the most sought after younger coaches in the game. I hope you enjoy Coach Brown's story!

Coach Pettus is originally from Paulding County where he played football, basketball, and ran track. He then went on to Millikin University to play football and later coached there as well. Coach Pettus has been a college coach, a high school HFC coach for 15 years and man oh man what a great dude to talk to! He is high energy and doing great things up at East Jackson! I hope you enjoy his story as much as I enjoyed talking with him!

Coach Slaney is a native of Tyrone Ga where he attended the Heritage School for High School. I multi-sport athlete in high school, Coach Slaney went on to get a degree at Georgia Tech. After college, Zach started his coaching career at his alma mater helping at the middle school level and worked his way up from there. Coach Slaney has moved up the right way and is now sitting in the "big chair" leading a program through faith, effort, and discipline. I hope you enjoy Coach Slaney's story!