LaGrange Grangers Coach's Biography

revised 8/29/11

DONNIE BRANCH Varsity Head Coach / Varsity Defensive Coordinator • Hometown: Anniston, Alabama • Education: B.S. in Health and Physical Education from University of North Alabama M.Ed. in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation from Troy State University • School System Position: Coach Branch is the In-School Suspension Lead Teacher at LaGrange High School. • College Sports Experience: 4-year letterman in baseball • Coaching Experience: 1984 - 1986 - Wheeler County High School (Alamo, GA) 1986 - Present - LaGrange High School • Other Coaching Responsibilities at LHS: Head Coach of the Varsity Baseball Team. Coach Branch’s teams have won numerous region championships and the 2004 AAA State Championship. • Family: Coach Branch is married to the former Angie McElroy of Arab, AL. Angie teaches first grade at Franklin Forest Elementary. Their son, Derek, 23, is a junior at Columbus State University. He also serves as a community coach for the Northside High School Baseball Team. Their daughter, Allison, 18, is a Freshman at The University of Georgia.
THOMAS CROCKER Varsity Linebacker Coach • Hometown: Hogansville, GA • Education: B.S. in Health and Physical Education from Auburn University, M. Ed in Health and Physical Education from the University of West Georgia • School System Position: Coach Crocker teaches physical education at Hollis Hand Elementary • Coaching Experience: 1989 – 1994 – Villa Rica High School; 1994 – 2008 – LaGrange High School • Family: Coach Crocker is married to the former Evyn Young of Villa Rica, Georgia. The Crocker’s have three children, Cole 10, Carson 9 and Landyn 7.
PAUL PICKETT Varsity Defensive Back Coach • Hometown: Enterprise, Alabama • Education: B.S. in Secondary Education – History/Biology from University of Alabama M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from University of Alabama • School System Position: Coach Pickett teaches World History at LHS. • College Sports Experience: Coach Pickett played football at Alabama, and in 1997 he was named Team Captain and was selected for the Academic All-SEC Team. • Coaching Experience: 2001 - 2002 - Fairhope (AL) High School 2002 - 2003 - Callaway High School 2003 - Present - LaGrange High School • Granger Trivia: Coach Pickett, a former Granger, was a junior on the 1991 State and National Championship Team. His father, Coach Sam Pickett, was the defensive back coach for the Grangers at that time. Paul graduated from LHS in 1993. • Family: Coach Pickett is married to the former Christine Miller of Fairhope, Alabama. She is an enrichment teacher at Franklin Forest Elementary School. The Picketts have two daughters: Miller is 7 years old, and Lofton is 4 years old.
JASON WILLIS Varsity Defensive Tackles Coach • Hometown: LaGrange, Georgia • Education: Central Alabama Community College B.S. in Middle School Education from LaGrange College • School System Position: Coach Willis teaches 5th grade at Berta Weathersbee Elementary. • College Sports Experience: Played baseball at Central Alabama Community College and LaGrange College. • Coaching Experience: 2002 - Present – LaGrange High School • Other Coaching Responsibilities at LHS: Varsity Baseball Assistant Coach • Family: Coach Willis is married to the former Katie Bush, a LaGrange native who also teaches at Berta Weathersbee Elementary. Their son, Brady, celebrated his second birthday on August 25th. The Willis' have two sons, Brady 3 years old and Colt will be one year old in December.
DAVID PLEASANTS Varsity Offensive Line Coach • Hometown: Riverdale, Georgia • Education: East Central Mississippi Junior College B.S. in Social Science from West Georgia College M.Ed. in Social Science from West Georgia College M.Ed. in Administration from Jacksonville State University Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from Troy University • School System Position: Coach Pleasants teaches in the Social Studies Department at LHS. • College Sports Experience: Played football and golf, was named to the Academic All-Gulf South Conference Football Team in 1986, and received the Male Academic Athlete of the Year Award in 1987. • Coaching Experience: 1987 - 1988 - West Georgia College – Graduate Assistant 1988 - 1993 - LaGrange High School 1994 - 1998 - Rome High School 1999 - Peach County High School 2000 - 2001- Rockmart High School 2002 - Present - LaGrange High School • Other Coaching Responsibilities at LHS: Golf Coach • Family: Coach Pleasants’ wife, the former Catherine Dukes, is a LaGrange native and LHS graduate. She is employed as a physical education teacher at Ethel Kight Magnet School. Their daughter, Kennedy, is 13, and their son, Jack David, is 10.
CLAUDE GIDDENS Varsity Inside Receivers Coach • Hometown: Greenville, AL • Education: B.S. in Physical Education from Troy State University M.Ed. in Physical Education from University of South Alabama • School System Position: Coach Giddens teaches Physical Education at Franklin Forest Elementary School. • Coaching Experience: 1983 - 1988 - Troup High School 1989 - 1990 - Cartersville (GA) High School 1990 - 1996 - Troup High School 1996 - 2000 - Highland Home (AL) High School – Head Coach 2001 - LaGrange High School 2002 - 2004 - Callaway High School – Head Coach 2005 - Present – LaGrange High School Family: Coach Giddens is married to the former Denise Pruitt, a LaGrange native and teacher at Franklin Forest Elementary School. Their daughter Whitley, 19, a former LHS Cheerleader and 2010 graduate, is a freshman at the University of West Georgia. Their son Zach, age 16, plays football and baseball for the Grangers.
DIALLEO BURKS, SR. Varsity Wide Receivers Coach • Hometown: LaGrange, GA • Education: Undergraduate degree in General Studies, with a minor in coaching and a minor in Religion from Eastern Kentucky University. Holds a Masters in Arts and Teaching from LaGrange College • School System Position: Coach Burks teaches middle school science at The Hope Academy • College Sports Experience: Coach Burks was a member of the LHS 1991 State and National Championship team and continued football and ran track at Eastern Kentucky. In 1995 he was named offensive MVP at Eastern Kentucky. 1998 World Bowl NFL Europe. • Coaching Experience: Georgia Force – Arena Football, Berkmar High School – Lilburn, GA, Hopewell High – Charlotte, NC, Troup High School, LaGrange, GA. • Family: Coach Burks is married to the former Patricia Ann Campbell of Lexington, Kentucky. The Burks have four children, Kennedy 12, DJ 9, Payton 6 and Kameron 7 months.
DAVIS RUSSELL Varsity Offensive Line / Weightlifting Coach • Hometown: Statesboro, GA • Education: B.S. in Health and Physical Education from Valdosta State University • School System Position: Coach Russell teaches physical education/weightlifting at LaGrange High School • College Sports Experience: Coach Russell was a member of the Valdosta State football team from 2004 – 2007. He was a four year letterman, 2 year captain and two time National Champion in 2004 and 2007 at Valdosta State. • Coaching Experience: 2008 – 2009 Tift County High School, 2010 Berrien County High School. • Other Coaching Responsibilities at LHS: Head Track and Field Coach • Family: Coach Russell is married to the former Kathrine Carter of Alpharetta, GA
JAY RUSSELL Assistant Athletic Director / Head Ninth Grade Coach • Hometown: Athens, Georgia • Education: B.S. in Education from University of Georgia M.Ed. in Education from University of Georgia M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Georgia Southern University • College Sports Experience: 3-year letterman at University of Georgia • Coaching /Athletic Director Experience: 1983 - 1984 - Barnesville Academy - Athletic Director / Head Football and Baseball Coach 1985 - 1991 - Georgia Southern University - Assistant Football Coach 1992 - 1993 - Rabun County High School - Athletic Director / Head Football Coach 1994 - 1998 - Stephens County High School - Athletic Director / Head Football Coach 1999 - 2000 - Gordon Central High School - Athletic Director / Head Football Coach 2000 - Georgia / Florida All-Star Game Coaching Staff 2000 - Present - LaGrange High School - Athletic Director 2002 - 2003 - President of the Georgia Athletic Directors Association 2003 - Present - LaGrange High School - Head Ninth Grade Coach • Family: Coach Russell is married to the former Ida Hudson of LaGrange. Their family also includes five children: Mandy, 28; Davis, 26; Murphy, 21; Henry, 19; and Fred, 16.
CAL HYERS Ninth Grade Assistant Coach • Hometown: Waycross, Georgia • Education: B.S. in Health and Physical Education from Georgia Southern College • School System Position: Coach Hyers is the Physical Education Specialist at Unity Elementary. • College Sports Experience: Played with the Georgia Southern Rugby Club – 1983-1986 • Coaching Experience: 1986 - 1999 – Ware County High School (Waycross, GA) 1999 - Present – LaGrange High School • Family: Coach Hyers is married to the former Jill Sprague of Roanoke, Alabama. Jill teaches English at LaGrange High School. They have a son and a daughter: Lew, age 15, who is a member of the Granger football team, and Meg, age 12.
TODD HERRINGTON Ninth Grade Assistant Coach • Hometown: LaGrange • Education: B.S. in English from LaGrange College • School System Position: Coach Herrington teaches in the English Department at LaGrange High School. • College Sports Experience: Played baseball at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and LaGrange College • Coaching Experience: 1996 - LaGrange High School - Community Coach 1997 - 1998 - Newnan High School 1999 - Present - LaGrange High School • Other Coaching Responsibilities at LHS: Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach • Family: Todd Herrington’s daughter, Mary Ansley, is five years old.
SHANNON BRIGHT Athletic Trainer • Hometown: Bremen, Georgia • Education: B.S. in Sports Medicine and Athletic Training from Valdosta State University M.Ed. from Columbus State University • School System Position: Coach Bright teaches Exceptional Education at LaGrange High School. • Experience as Athletic Trainer: 2001 - 2004 - Bremen High School - Student Athletic Trainer 2004 - 2008 - Valdosta State University – Student Athletic Trainer 2008 - 2010 - Hughston Hospital Athletic Training Fellowship 2010 - Present - LaGrange High School Family: Coach Bright’s husband, Adam, is a native of Tallapoosa, GA. He is employed at Harris County High School as a math teacher and coach.