Judson Hamby moves to Athens, 300 career wins and maintains standards

Judson Hamby starts again.

After spending 19 years as a football coach at Parkview High School in Gwinnett County, he is taking a test run in the Classic City.

He spent the 2023 season at Athens Academy, but because private schools don’t get into a state pension plan and he has the future of six children to worry about, he returned to the public schools stratosphere and joined this year at the Oconee County Personnel Directory. year. He currently coaches the varsity girls soccer team and teaches health and physical education.

“Originally, when I took the Athens (Academy) job, I loved the school and I loved the program, great team,” Hamby said. “Ultimately, I just decided for my family and for my retirement that I was going to get a job like Oconee County had because I knew it wouldn’t stay open for long. … I’m enjoying the (new) experience and the change and I am blessed that this opportunity was there.”

After winning a state championship in 2023, senior goalkeeper Ella Hayes said the team was initially stunned to learn they would have a new coach at the start of the season.

“It was definitely a shock because I wasn’t expecting to hear that we were going to get a new coach, but I was also excited to see how he would implement his football IQ and everything like that,” Hayes said. “It was interesting to see how he would come in and change us as a program because we had a very strong season last season and we lost two very strong starters. We were all curious to see how he would implement the newcomers and rebuild. ”

In his first year with the Warriors, he earned his 300th career win, leading them to the playoffs with a 15-1-5 overall record and a region title. The reigning 2023 state champions are once again in the state semifinals after shutout 1-0 Monday night against Savannah Country Day. They have knocked off every opponent in the Class 3A playoffs so far.

Joining an established program can come with a lot of pressure, but not for Hamby. Over the course of his career, Hamby won five state titles with the girls at Parkview and last year led Athens Academy to the Class 2A state championship game.

“I guess I had to jokingly find a way not to screw it up,” Hamby said with a laugh. “You have to run your own race and coach your own way. I think what worked for the previous coach and the program he built; it made it easy for me to come in and follow. With that, I have put my stamp on different things and thus defined my identity as head of the program. The big thing, the ultimate goal, is that every year is different.

“If you look at this year and compare it to last year, you can’t really do that. It’s different kids, different players, different injuries, things like that. The girls have been really good at going to one game at a time look, just once.” Step-by-step. For me and for them there is all that extra pressure when it comes to becoming reigning champions, but I think it is important that as a group we are focused on the now and not on what will come later.’

Hayes said Hamby brings a different style of coaching. It has to do with his club coaching experience.

“We do a lot more technical work and we have shooting drills that benefit me as a goalkeeper,” Hayes said. “I just feel like his knowledge of and for the game is incredible. He keeps the intensity, he always holds us to a certain standard, he never lets us falter even when we’re playing against a team that we know might is not so.” So Good, our intensity in practice will be maintained as if we were playing North Oconee or another rival.”

Two things Hamby has implemented or enforced more this year are “Hardhat Player of the Game” and supporting the younger teams. The first is an award given to girls who put 110 percent into game night. For example, Sydney Jackson won the hat after their second-round win over Lumpkin County for scoring two of the four goals. The latter speaks for itself, builds family bonds and culture, and holds great promise for generations of Oconee County girls soccer players to come.

“No matter where you go, the most important things are the kids, the parents and the program,” Hamby said. “It’s all about them and their ability to put the time and effort into building what we have here. As coaches, it’s important, but at the same time, the investment that kids and families put into it is key. … The future looks bright.”

Sara Tidwell covers Athens high school sports and University of Georgia athletics for The Athens Banner-Herald. Contact her at [email protected] and follow her @saramtidwell on Twitter.

Related Posts