GMC News
GMC Announces New Athletic Director
New Georgia Military College Athletic Director Creates New Opportunities for Student-Athletes
MILLEDGEVILLE, GA – Georgia Military College, a public educational institution with an intercollegiate athletics program, recently announced Coach Rob Manchester as the new Athletic Director and Head Football Coach for the college. Manchester says he is looking forward to providing new opportunities to Georgia athletes at GMC.
Georgia Military College Athletics calls Milledgeville, Georgia home with nine athletics programs: football, softball, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s cross country, and rifle team. Offering high-tech facilities, scholarship opportunities for athletes, and so much more, GMC’s goal is to help athletes develop their skills and compete to play at the next level. Currently 52 former GMC athletes have gone on to play professionally in the NFL, men’s golf, and men’s soccer. As a member of the Georgia College Athletic Association and National Junior College Athletic Association, GMC has a long record of academic and athletic success holding four NJCAA National Championships, three NRA ROTC Rifle National Championships, and fifteen NJCAA Regional Championships.
“First and foremost, I would like to thank President Caldwell and Col. Nelson Kraft for the opportunity to lead our GMC Bulldog football team and Junior College Athletic Department,” Manchester said. “I am truly humbled, honored, and blessed to have gained their trust during this interim stage. I am so excited to lead Georgia’s premier JC athletics program. GMC athletics has grown exponentially over the years under the direction of great leaders. We aim to continue that legacy. We want men and women with a desire to take their talents to the next level of competition, to join our team and to help continue building the GMC Bulldog legacy.”
The new A.D. is no stranger to GMC – he started as a Defensive Backs Coach for the GMC football team back in 2003, under the direction of Coach Bert Williams.
“We are absolutely that thrilled Rob Manchester has accepted our offer to serve as our Junior College Athletic Director and Head Football Coach,” said GMC President, Lieutenant General William B. Caldwell, IV, U.S. Army (Ret). “His love of GMC, our Junior College athletic program, and especially our student-athletes, makes him an exceptional choice to move our athletic program forward. His excitement in bringing hope and opportunity to young student-athletes made our decision very easy in selecting Rob. We are always thrilled to promote from within our institution when a professional’s talent is so clear – and this was certainly the case with Rob. We are equally excited for his wonderful family, Michelle and their two daughters Emmie and Ellary.”
Manchester joined the GMC football staff in 2003 as the defensive backs coach. After four seasons, he was named the Defensive Coordinator and became the Assistant Head Coach in 2011. In 13 seasons as the Defensive Coordinator, Manchester’s defenses have been ranked statistically as one of the best in the country on a yearly basis. The Bulldogs’ 2013 defense was instrumental in their reaching the NJCAA National Championship title game. Manchester has mentored countless student-athletes to the next level, with over 100 earning NCAA D1 scholarships, 17 defensive players have achieved All-American status, and seven have ascended to the NFL.
“The athletic opportunities at GMC are endless,” said Colonel Nelson Kraft, GMC Lake Country Region Executive Director. “If a Georgia high school graduate’s goal is to continue to compete in athletics, knock out their college core classes, and have a shot at competing at the D1 or D2 level and beyond, GMC athletics is where they need to be. Coach Manchester is fired up to get young athletes into positions where they can succeed. We’ve got a lot of good things happening in sports at GMC and I’m excited for the upcoming seasons.”
GMC’s football team is gearing up for their fall season under the leadership of their new Head Coach.
A schedule announcement for the GMC Bulldogs football team will be released in the coming weeks. For more information about GMC Athletics, visit www.gmcbulldogs.com.
