8th Annual GACA Hall of Fame Golf Tournament
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GACA Teams Up with Touchstone Digital Solutions to Launch Digital Hall of Fame
Jesup, Georgia – November 1, 2025 – The Georgia Athletic Coaches Association (GACA) is pleased to announce Touchstone Digital Solutions as their official digital hall of fame provider. This partnership brings state-of-the-art touchscreen software and digital legacy solutions to GACA, enabling the organization to preserve its rich history, celebrate member achievements, and share their story with coaches, families, and supporters worldwide.
Touchstone Digital Solutions, a leader in building digital legacy platforms for high schools, colleges, and athletic organizations, has designed a comprehensive platform specifically for GACA that centralizes decades of coaching excellence in one interactive experience. The cloud-based solution showcases GACA's leadership team, consolidates all awards and recognitions, highlights sponsors, and celebrates the organization's enduring legacy in Georgia high school athletics.
“The GACA is excited to partner with Touchstone Digital Solutions to better serve its membership of over 11,000 coaches in Georgia!”-Dr. Craig Davis, GACA Executive Director. “The impactful possibilities are endless and necessary in today’s world to promote coaches, players, schools and communities by taking advantage of the many opportunities provided by Garnder Gendron and his team at Touchstone!”
"Touchstone is proud to partner with such an important and forward-thinking organization in the state of Georgia," said Gardner Gendron, Co-Founder of Touchstone Digital Solutions. “We’re excited to support GACA’s mission of recognizing coaching excellence, and it is a pleasure to work with Craig and the entire GACA team to help make their work a little easier.”
About Touchstone Digital Solutions: Touchstone is the leader in building custom interactive experiences for high schools, colleges, and other institutions nationwide. The company transforms traditional recognition displays, including halls of fame, trophy cases, and historical archives, into dynamic, interactive experiences that preserve school history while engaging their communities.They make it easy for schools of all sizes to go digital. Trusted by Ivy League schools, ACC programs, and high schools across Georgia, their cloud-based platform lets institutions share centuries of achievements anywhere, on any device.About GACA: The Georgia Athletic Coaches Association (GACA) is fundamentally driven by four key pillars that guide its mission and initiatives. The first pillar, Giving Back, emphasizes the importance of selfless service among coaches, encouraging them to positively impact their communities. The second pillar, Advocacy, focuses on safeguarding coaches through comprehensive support, including access to $2M in liability insurance and a strong platform for enhancing high school sports. The third pillar, Career Development, is dedicated to equipping coaches with essential tools and opportunities to refine their skills and foster valuable relationships. Finally, the Awards pillar recognizes excellence within the coaching community through Legacy Scholarships for coaches' children and honors outstanding coaches for their achievements. Together, these pillars foster a supportive environment for coaches, enabling them to thrive both professionally and personally.
GACA Legacy Awards
Five $1,000 scholarships to be given to high school children of high school coaches who participate in sports while in grades 9-12 are eligible. Nominations open for 2025-2026.
Coaches v Overdoses
We urge coaches, parents, student athletes, and community members to increase awareness, spread the message, and get off the sidelines and help us tackle fentanyl and substance misuse.
The Georgia Athletic Coaches Association is launching its Georgia Coaches Vs. Overdoses campaign at football games across Georgia to spread the word that just one pill can kill and that fake is fatal. The campaign will include important messaging about the dangers of fentanyl, fake pills, counterfeit vapes and provide parents with conversation starters, mental health resources, and access to proper drug disposal. Fentanyl is the top cause of overdoses and teens are 69% less likely to misuse prescription pills if they are aware fentanyl exists in 7 out of 10 fake pills.
Please get your school involved. Join the GACA in this very important initiative, sign up below
2026 GACA Hall Of Fame Members Selected
Congratulations – GACA Hall Of Fame Members for 2026 selected
Gerald Barnes – Baseball
Steve Cisson – Softball/Basketball
Donald Dollar – Basketball
Conrad Nix – Football
The Hall of Fame Induction Banquet will be Saturday May 30, 2026 at the Dalton Convention Center in Dalton, Georgia.
All Star Photos and HOF are now available online
Download your All-Star and Hall Of Fame Pictures HERE.
Youth Suicide — “Silent Epidemic”
Attached is a link to a video of Clark Flatt, President of The Jason Foundation (JFI) sharing a brief background of JFI and information regarding youth suicide. He shares how to learn more about the warning signs of the “Silent Epidemic” of youth suicide by visiting jasonfoundation.com. Hopefully this video will encourage coaches to learn more about youth suicide, the resources available and possibly save a life.
NIL Explanation – VIDEO
VIEW HERE
How Does NIL Impact High School Coaches, Student-Athletes and their Families in Georgia?
Recorded on
Oct 31, 2023 11:00 AM
Description
On October 2nd, 2023, the Georgia High School Association executive board approved a modification of the language in bylaw 1.92-C and introduced bylaw 1.97 which permits student-athletes to receive consideration for the use of their name, image, and likeness (NIL) while maintaining their eligibility to play. Join Dr. Robin Hines (GHSA), Dr. Craig Davis (GACA), and Randy Eccker (Eccker Sports) to learn about the facts of NIL in Georgia.
Join and get the app.
Become a member of the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association, (GACA,GBCA or GFCA) so you can join over 5,000 of Georgia’s best coaches and administrators getting the benefits of:
We are proud to introduce you to the new GACA App.
DOWNLOAD THE MEMBERS ONLY GACA APP. If you are not a member yet, join here.
To setup their account, the first time you login click “forgot password” and go through the steps there. (screenshot attached). This will set their password for future use.
Now you can stay in touch with your fellow coaches statewide. Plus, get valuable information throughout the year.
We are glad to have you on board!
GACA GIVE BACK
Join Us in GIVING BACK – Sign up HERE.
Sideline Store Grand Opening
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It's official. Your NEW GA Athletic Coaches Association Sideline Store is LIVE. To help fans celebrate, we're offering our deepest discount of the year—25% OFF all Sideline Store purchases with code SPIRIT for an entire month! Follow these steps to start promoting this epic Grand Opening sale today. SHOP NOW |
Date: Tuesday, February 17
Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm EST
Location: Atlanta Falcons Training Facility (Flowery Branch, GA)
Audience: Calling all high school athletes! Participants in the clinic will learn skills, drills, and the fundamentals of girls flag football from flag experts. This event is FREE, but registration is required.
Athlete Registration: Register HERE
Buford HS Conner Thomson and Emerson Botham Coach Casey Laws
Lambert HS Dylan Johnson and Jack Crabtree Coach Josh Sullivan
Greenbrier HS Evan Beard and Tyler Wilson Coach Dana Hadden
Hart County HS Kason Carden and Kain Norris Coach Hutch Arrowood
Marist School Tanner Karakis and Miller Moore Coach Preston Bazemore
Five $1,000 scholarships to be given to high school children of high school coaches who participate in sports while in grades 9-12 are eligible. Nominations open for 2025-2026.
Coach Buddy Knapp
Coach Buddy Knapp passed away on Saturday January 3, 2026 in Centre, Alabama.
He was Head Football Coach at Mt. Zion High School( Carrollton, Ga.) from 1989-1995 and 2002-2003, he also was the Head Football Coach at Coosa High School from 1996-2001.
Services will be Thursday January 8, 2026 at Perry Funeral Home, Centre, Al. Visitation from 11:00 am-12:00 am(CT), funeral service at 12:00 am(CT)
Coach Donald Dollar
A Celebration Service Honoring the Life and Legacy of Mr. Donald E. Dollar of East Point, Georgia who passed away October 15, 2025, his service will be held Thursday, October 30, 2025, 12 noon at World Changers Church International, 2500 Burdett Road, College Park, Georgia; Dr. Creflo Dollar, Senior Pastor and Eulogist and Pastor Carol Jones, Officiant. Interment, Private. A viewing will be held on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Legacy Funeral Home Chapel, 8968 Fayetteville Road, Jonesboro, Georgia. He is survived by his two sons, Chad (Kyla) of College Park, Georgia and Cameron (Maureen) of Seattle, Washington; six grandchildren, Aliyah, Darian (Kayla), Jalen, Giselle, Chloe, and Jason; brother, Kenneth (Carol) of Marietta, Georgia; sister-in-law, Emma of Fayetteville, Georgia; and a host of cherished nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Family and friends are asked to assemble at the church at 11:30 a.m.
Chip Emerson
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Chip Emerson. Longtime “WEB MASTER” and friend of the GACA. “Chip” worked selflessly for over a decade behind the scenes with the GACA to serve its membership. He was a recipient of the GACA Calvin Lee Murray Award 2023 and he will be missed by all that knew him and benefitted from his service.
Chip Emerson, 76, passed away peacefully on September 23, 2025. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Lisa Ford and daughter, Abigail Emerson. John Roy Emerson was born in Memphis, Tennessee. His family moved to Knoxville which was home for many years.
Chip attended the University of Tennessee. He joined the Navy Reserves in 1969 and was stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. He specialized in communications while serving. He returned to Knoxville and began his career in radio sales working for several local stations, including WKGN and WIVK. Chip started an advertising and public relations agency, Media Dimensions, during the World’s Fair. He specialized in commercials, video production and public relations. He sold his agency and moved to Atlanta in 1988. Chip continued as a marketing consultant helping clients with their web presence and sales.
When in Knoxville, Chip was the owner of a popular campus bar on the Strip, The Place. It was a well known spot for student’s late night adventures and live music. He had a love for music of all types which he passed on to his daughter. He followed all University of Tennessee sports and to his dismay was unable to pass that passion on to his daughter.
In 2023, Chip was inducted into the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association for his service to elevate and strengthen the association. He was a lifelong avid golfer which is another love he and his daughter shared. Chip served on the Board of Governors at Dunwoody Country Club and on various committees. The community of Sandy Springs is also where he actively served and volunteered. Heritage Sandy Springs was his focus for many years. He was on the Advisory Board of the City Springs Theatre Company.
From Tahiti, Australia, China, Europe and most recently Japan, he enjoyed travel adventures with his wife and daughter. Chip was simply one of the good guys. He always had a smile, was incredibly kind and never met a stranger. He was a wise, fun and all-around best dad.
Chip was predeceased by his parents, Thomas and Mary Emerson, his sisters Mary Ellen Blount and Pat Chandler. He is survived by sisters, Gayle Dwyer and Cindy Morris.
In honor of his wife’s volunteer efforts and his commitment to Sandy Springs, his family requests any donations be made to The Sandy Springs Society, P.O. Box 720074, Sandy Springs GA 30358.
T. McFerrin
The GACA sends thoughts and prayers to the family of Coach T. McFerrin, long time high school legend in the football coaching world, who passed away at age 83. Funeral arrangements are to be determined and more can be read below…
https://www.fox5atlanta.com/sports/georgia-high-school-football-legend-t-mcferrin-passes-away-83
The funeral will be Tuesday, July 8 at 1:00 at the Lighthouse World Outreach Center on 609 Gene Bell Rd in Monroe. A reception will follow at the First United Methodist Church on Broad St in Monroe.
Pastor Ward
The GACA sends thoughts and prayers to the Family of John Robert Ward.
Pastor Ward served as the official “Pastor” of the GACA Hall of Fame for almost 25 years as he was charged with blessing the food and event at the GACA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Obituary information can be found here: https://www.legacy.com/…/legacyre…/john-ward-obituary…
Coach Clay Hill
The GACA is saddened by the passing of Coach Clay Hill. Coach Hill was a longtime friend of
the GACA as well as Past President and recipient of the GACA- Earl Ethridge Meritorious Award. All the GACA family sends thoughts and prayers to the Clay Hill Family! Funeral information is below...
Service
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
4:00PM
Crisp County Middle School Auditorium
Visitation
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
5:15PM
Crisp County Middle School Auditorium
Sonny Smart
The GACA wants to send thoughts and prayers to the Sonny Smart family. Coach Sonny Smart was a long time High School Football Coach in Georgia at Rabun County High School and Bainbridge High School and passed away on January 4, 2025.
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