Four NE Georgia FCA Media Day takeaways

Four NE Georgia FCA Media Day takeaways

By Robert Alfonso Jr.

Gainesville, GA – The annual Northeast Georgia Fellowship of Christian Athletes Media Day is an indication the basketball season is around the corner. There were 31 different programs taking about what they have noticed about their team for the upcoming 2023-2024.

While there has only been a few days of practice under each teams belt each program knows no title can be won during the summer or fall. This does give coaches, however, a glimpse into what needs to be worked on to build their program and culture.

Here are some four takeaways from media day.

First-year coaches on the sidelines

Thirty-one different boys and girls programs came to Free Chapel with new coaches running their program. There are two new names leading programs on the boys side. Buford’s Wes Parker and Flowery Branch’s David Hawkins.

Familiar faces, new places

Every year the coaching carousel is always changing. This year was no different for many of the programs in attendance.

We talk about the number of first-year coaches attending their first media day, while others are familiar with the process. The only difference is the school colors.

Benjie Wood is the new boys coach at Lakeview Academy, after 30-years of teaching and coaching in the public school system with his last stop being Buford High. Chuck Graham is at the helm of the West Hall boys program after several years at Gainesville. North Hall boys coach Jarvis Davenport, a longtime East Hall assistant, is back in Hall County after a number of years at White County girls head coach. Jay Burney, who stepped down from the same position at Flowery Branch, is now the boys coach at East Forsyth.

Joel Lecoerve is Jackson County’s new boys coach after a decade at Archer High in Gwinnett. Chestatee’s new boys coach is Allen Griffin, who previously coached the Gainesville girls program. Gainesville’s Charlemagne Gibbons comes to Hall County after building a successful program at Newton County. Commerce’s Kevin Furtado, a basketball veteran, came from Greene County. East Hall’s Brad Cochran, formerly of Lumpkin County, returns home after heading the Union County girls program. Robert Martin, who won a GHSA state championship with King’s Ridge last year, is now leading the Dragons program in Pickens County.

Communication, speed, and toughness emphasis

Every head coach in attendance has had a chance to evaluate their team. Since the end of last season, summer games, and fall leagues it is fair to say most coaches are looking to play a lot faster. Traditionally many Northeast high school programs have looked to play faster, mainly based on the personnel on their roster. Now, with limited interior size, teams need to push the ball faster.

Communication is one of the hardest thing for coaches, in an electronic age world, is getting players to talk on the floor. This is an emphasis for all coaches. They need this from all the players on the floor in order to be successful. The level of communication done will certainly determine a teams success on the floor.

Toughness is another competent for every team this season. Coaches are looking for their teams to demonstrate a level of physical and mental fight. No, they’re not looking for their players to literally get into a physical altercation. They want to see their teams to battle for rebounds despite their size disadvantage. These players also need to get after every 50-50 possible. It will endear them their coach, get them some more time on the floor, but more importantly help contribute to the teams success.

Vining is a basketball treasure

Every year a guest speaker addresses all the coaches and players during media day. Each speaker delivers a powerful message.

This year, Seth Vining spoke to the teams during the breaks in the interview. After 39 years of coach, he is now retired and enjoying the game. The veteran coach makes it appoint to attend basketball games in the region and will come in to teach his vaunted defense. He is a Georgia Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame member.

He won back-to-back 2A state championships as the East Hall High girls basketball coach. Vining coached at Gainesville College, now the University of North Georgia Gainesville campus. He returned to high school a few years later before putting together one of the more historic runs in Georgia high school history as the East Hall boys basketball coach.

The Vikings went to the playoffs every season from 1993 to 2004, winning state titles in 2001 (Class 2A) and 2003 (Class 3A). They were state runner-up in 2000 and 2004 along with three Final Four appearances. So when you total it up, East Hall went to seven Final Fours, four championship game appearances, and two state titles during Vining’s 12-year tenure. He has amassed 745 career wins as a basketball coach.

Listening to the Tryon, NC native talk about basketball is mesmerizing. During the two sessions Vining shared some basketball stories he experienced as a coach.

First, he called his wife, of 50 years, the greatest coaches wife ever. There is no argument because they started dating in their 20’s and she has been by his side the entire time. Then there was the time he had a team shoot 51 three pointers. He shared a story of playing a running clock game, which the other team used to their advantage calling two timeouts to keep the clock running to beat Vinning’s team. Being the competitor Vinning is that didn’t sit well with him and later that year his squad scored 138 points on the same team.

Those stories, and many others were great, but being a CASA volunteer along with getting involved with Fellowship of Christian Athletes is something he would like many more coaches to do.