GHSF Daily honors 9 coaches with Most Improved Winning Team awards
Nine Georgia football coaches received GHSF Daily’s Siemens Awards Tuesday in Macon at the annual GACA Coaches Luncheon.
The Siemens Awards go to coaches of the “most improved winning teams” in each GHSA classification and the GIAA.
The winners (with capsules below) were Adam Carter of Lowndes (Class 6A), Steve Hibbitts of Lakeside-Evans (5A), Tyler Jones of Cambridge (4A), Tommy Jones of Cherokee Bluff (3A), Will Rogers of Sumter County (2A), Buddy Martin of Toombs County (A Division I), Lee Chomskis of Lincoln County (A Division II) and Erik Soliday of Tiftarea Academy (GIAA).
The algorithm that determines the winners is powered by the computer Maxwell Ratings and compares each team’s 2024 performance to its preseason 2024 expectations given its history. Winning coaches must lead their teams to the playoffs with winning records and improved seeding or playoff finish from 2023.
Coaches from several college teams also attended the event put on by the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association. Those included Georgia’s Kirby Smart, Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer and Tennessee’s Josh Heupel.
Class 6A: Adam Carter, Lowndes
10-2 record following 4-6 finish in 2023
Avenged losses to Camden County, Richmond Hill, Valdosta
Ended skid of first consecutive losing seasons since 1993-94
Class 5A: Steve Hibbitts, Lakeside-Evans
First 10-win season since 2009 after 3-7 finish in 2023
First playoff victory since 2009 (vs. New Manchester)
Avenged losses to South Effingham, Effingham County, Glynn Academy, Evans
Class 4A: Tyler Jones, Cambridge
First 10-win season in school history after 6-5 finish in 2023
First state quarterfinal appearance in school history
Win over No. 6 Cedartown in first round
Class 3A: Tommy Jones, Cherokee Bluff
11-2 finish after 4-6 record in 2023
First quarterfinal finish in school history
Final No. 5 ranking, highest in school history
Class 2A: Will Rogers, Sumter County
First 10-win season in school history
First playoff win since 2019
Hired in 2022 when program had gone 3-24 over previous three seasons
Class A Division I: Buddy Martin, Toombs County
First state championship in school history
School-record 13 wins
Record improved from 4-6 to 6-5 to 11-2 to 13-1 past four seasons
Class A Division II: Lee Chomskis
First 11-win season since 2012
First undefeated regular season since 2011
43 wins in five seasons; 36 the previous five
Class 3A-A Private: Jonathan Gess, Hebron Christian
First state championship in school history
Hired in 2022, program coming off consecutive losing seasons
First 12-win season in history; previous high nine wins
GIAA: Erik Soliday, Tiftarea Academy
First 10-win season since 2018
First region title since 2018
Improved from 3-8 in 2023 and 1-9 in 2022