GMC News
GMC Prep School Coaches receive Coach of the Year Awards
Chuck Sheffield, Jeff Ward, Jennifer Deason, Debbie Barsby, Allen Simmons received Coach of the Year recognitions.
Five GMC Prep School coaches have been recognized for their outstanding achievements in sports. Debbie Barsby has been named the 1A Public Boys Coach of the Year by the Georgia Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (GATFXCCA). For three years, Barsby has been the Middle and High School Cross Country Coach for the Prep School. She was selected by a committee consisting of the Cross Country classification representatives. Consideration was given to coaches of teams that progressed as the season went on and exceeded expectations throughout the season and at the State Meet. She led the GMC Prep School’s Boys team to a historic season in 2016. They won the Georgia High School Association’s (GHSA) State Cross Country Championship in Carrolton, Georgia on November 5, 2016. That was the 3rd time in 5 years that the GMC Prep boys won the state championship title in Cross Country.
“I received the recognition because of my players,” said Coach Debbie Barsby, GMC Prep’s Boys & Girls Cross Country Head Coach. “They are the ones that performed, did well, and won the state championship.”
The Georgia Athletic Coaches Association (GACA) also recognized four of GMC Prep’s Softball coaches. In his first year as head coach, Allen Simmons was named the Region 7A Coach of the Year. Chuck Sheffield, Jeff Ward, and Jennifer Deason were also named the Region 7A Softball Assistant Coaches of the Year. They led their team to their fifth consecutive state tournament in Columbus, Georgia on October 27, 2016. The team placed 2nd at the 2016 tournament and won back to back titles in 2014 and 2015.
“This recognition means I’ve got an opportunity to coach great girls and have a great staff of assistant coaches that help me,” said Coach Allen Simmons, GMC Prep’s Softball Head Coach.
