The Atlanta Falcons Coach of the Week program recognizes high school football coaches across the state of Georgia for their hard work and dedication to making a difference in the lives of student-athletes both on and off the field. This season’s tenth winner is North Paulding head coach Jim Bob Bryant, who is in his second year as the Wolfpacks’ head coach.
Bryant was born and raised in North Carolina and after graduating from ECU in 1995 with a degree in Exercise and Sports Sciences, Coach Bryant was Offensive Coordinator at Williamston High School (his alma mater) until 2002. During this time, Williamston HS won the 1999 NC 1A State Championship and played for the title in 2001 and 2002. Bryant took his first Head Coaching Job at Greene Central High School in 2003. In 5 years, his teams finished 42-21 and won 3 Conference Titles. Bryant started Statewide Combines for the NC/SC Shrine Bowl and ran them for 10 years. Coach Bryant took over as Head Football Coach at Havelock High School in 2008, where he coached the Rams to an overall record of 118-16 during his 9 years there. During his time there, Havelock played for four 3A State Championships, winning three consecutive State Championships in 2011, 2012, and 2013. Havelock also led the state in total yards, points and/or defense in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 Coach Bryant was also selected NC Associated Press State Coach of the Year in 2011 and 2013.
In 2016, Coach Bryant was honored as the Carolina Panthers NFL Coach of the Week. Then in 2017, Coach Bryant moved to Western NC and became Head Football Coach at Freedom High School in Morganton, NC, where he coached the Patriots to a 7-5 record. During Bryant’s one year at Freedom, 13 offensive school records were broken. Coach Bryant retired from NC after coaching for 20 years, but was offered the Head Job North Paulding High School in Dallas Georgia in 2018.
“I was instrumental in getting Coach Bryant to take this job and leave a very successful program in NC,” said North Paulding TD Club President Kevin Bentley” He is an excellent coach but I also knew what kind of role model he would be for our kids.”
Bryant has led community initiatives at North Paulding, including fundraisers for Breast Cancer Awareness, donations to Children’s Health Care of Atlanta, Childhood Cancer initiatives and other volunteer work. He has also put an emphasis on promoting player safety and well-being by leading coaching clinics and having character development lessons every Friday.
On the gridiron, Bryant led North Paulding to a 7-4 finish last season and the Wolfpack are 6-3 heading into their season finale against No. 2 ranked McEachern this Friday night. Bryant’s all-time record as a head coach is 180-49 heading into the matchup.
If you know a varsity head football coach dedicated to making a different on and off the field, CLICK HERE to nominate them for the Atlanta Falcons Coach of the Week Award.
Loading ...
